You hit the brakes to slow down and the pedal goes to the floor. Uh-oh! What do you do?
Begin pumping the brake pedal and keep pumping it.
You may be able to build up enough pressure in the braking system to slow down a bit, or even stop completely. If you have antilock brakes, you do not normally pump them--but if your brakes have failed, this may work.
Do not panic. Relax and steer the car smoothly.
Cars will often safely corner at speeds much higher than you realize or are used to driving. The rear of the car may slip, so steer evenly, being careful not to overcorrect.
Shift the car into the lowest gear and let the engine and transmission slow you down.
Pull the emergency brake, but not too hard.
Pulling too hard on the emergency brake will cause the rear wheels to lock and the car to spin around. Use even, constant pressure. In most cars, the emergency brake (the hand brake or parking brake) is cable operated and serves as a fail-safe brake that should work even when the rest of the braking system has failed. The car should slow down and, in combination with the lower gear, eventually stop.
If you come up behind another car, use it to help you stop.
Blow your horn and flash your lights to get the driver's attention. If it appears you're going to hit the car, try to hit it square, bumper to bumper, so you do not knock the other vehicle off the road. This is an extremely dangerous maneuver. It works best if the vehicle in front of you is larger than yours--a bus or truck, for example--and if both vehicles are traveling at about the same speed. You do not want to crash into a much slower-moving or stopped vehicle. However, you may have no choice.
Cheers!
Begin pumping the brake pedal and keep pumping it.
You may be able to build up enough pressure in the braking system to slow down a bit, or even stop completely. If you have antilock brakes, you do not normally pump them--but if your brakes have failed, this may work.
Do not panic. Relax and steer the car smoothly.
Cars will often safely corner at speeds much higher than you realize or are used to driving. The rear of the car may slip, so steer evenly, being careful not to overcorrect.
Shift the car into the lowest gear and let the engine and transmission slow you down.
Pull the emergency brake, but not too hard.
Pulling too hard on the emergency brake will cause the rear wheels to lock and the car to spin around. Use even, constant pressure. In most cars, the emergency brake (the hand brake or parking brake) is cable operated and serves as a fail-safe brake that should work even when the rest of the braking system has failed. The car should slow down and, in combination with the lower gear, eventually stop.
If you come up behind another car, use it to help you stop.
Blow your horn and flash your lights to get the driver's attention. If it appears you're going to hit the car, try to hit it square, bumper to bumper, so you do not knock the other vehicle off the road. This is an extremely dangerous maneuver. It works best if the vehicle in front of you is larger than yours--a bus or truck, for example--and if both vehicles are traveling at about the same speed. You do not want to crash into a much slower-moving or stopped vehicle. However, you may have no choice.
Cheers!
