What to Do When Your Car's Brakes Suddenly Fail on the Road?
2 Answers
Car brake failure is mostly caused by improper operation leading to mechanical failure, such as prolonged downhill driving causing the brake pads to generate heat through friction, carbonization of the brake drum, and complete loss of braking function. The solutions for car brake failure are as follows: 1. First, turn on the hazard lights to alert other vehicles, while also paying attention to avoiding other vehicles. Avoid swerving left and right and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. 2. Use engine braking and check if the seatbelt is fastened. Release the accelerator to let the car slow down. 3. Engage the handbrake for emergency braking. The handbrake is designed with emergency braking in mind. Try pulling the handbrake to see if it can stop the car. When pulling the handbrake, be careful not to pull it all the way or too quickly, as this can damage the handbrake and cause it to fail. Apply force gradually and slowly pull the handbrake all the way down. 4. Force downshift to use the transmission to reduce speed. If the handbrake slows the car too slowly or fails, promptly try the forced downshift method to use a lower gear to drag the speed down. Once the car slows down, use the handbrake in combination to gradually bring the car to a stop. For automatic transmission models, press the brake pedal and shift the gear lever to the N (Neutral) position, as the N position means the engine revs without transmitting power to the wheels.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and I've actually experienced brake failure, just last month on a rainy day. At that moment, I had to stay absolutely calm and not panic. First, I gradually released the accelerator to let the car slow down naturally, then quickly pulled up the handbrake, but applied it gently—too sudden and it could skid out of control. Next, I downshifted (if it's a manual transmission) to use engine braking to slow the car, while immediately turning on the hazard lights to alert other drivers. I looked for a safe place to pull over, like an uphill slope or an open area, to avoid heading into traffic. Later, it turned out the brake fluid was low, a result of neglecting regular maintenance. Now, I check the brake fluid level and lines myself every three months, topping up or replacing as needed. Safe driving isn't something to cut corners on, especially during the rainy season when small issues can escalate into major accidents.
