Especially when it occurs in the middle of driving, brake failure is a major safety risk, and one that unfortunately can occur suddenly when car mechanical operation is overlooked for a while. When driving, we at Top Notch Body & Mechanics would like to offer some safety tips on how to handle the sudden brake failure.
How Do You Respond to Sudden Brake Failure?
Remain Calm. Make sure to stay even keeled and try not to panic to keep you and those around you safe, which is vital. Just breathe deeply and try to be aware of your surroundings and regain as much control of your vehicle as you can in order to get it safely off the highway or road.
Leave Vehicle On. This can cause it to skid further by disabling your steering or even fully locking your steering, even if it seems like a good idea to slow it down, do not turn your vehicle off. In order to cause you to have less control of your vehicle. Keep the engine running until you are fully stopped. Leaving your car on will make it easier to bring it safely to the side of the road.
Activate Hazard Lights. Flip on your hazard lights to let other drivers on the road know you are broken down, particularly at night. If there are people around you, honk the horn to warn the people around you to steer away from you as well.
Downshift. Avoid skidding by not downshifting to the 1st gear of the car at once, instead try to downshift your car gradually, one gear at a time. If your vehicle is automatic, remove your foot from the accelerator will help it shift. You can safely activate the emergency brakes and it will help you get your car to a safe distance.
Attempt Brakes. To slow the car down by applying steady and hard pressure on the brake pedal, see if you can get at least one half of your dual brakes. Keep in mind, only one half of the brakes have failed, sometimes. Being careful not to press too hard, brake steadily and firmly.
Carefully Engage Emergency Brake. Emergency brakes will slowly slow down your vehicle, and they must be engaged carefully since they are separate from the normal hydraulic based braking system you are used to in order to keep as much control of the car as possible. They will take longer in order to slow your vehicle down.
Get a Tow. Once your vehicle is in a safe area, fully stopped, or off the road, call your trusty towing provider for help. They can offer a safe and convenient tow to a mechanic that can get your brakes repaired.
Auto Repair & Body Shop Services in Dallas, Texas (Just Minutes Away from Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Coppell, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale & Wylie, TX)
If your brakes are giving your trouble, or you are first noticing signs of trouble in Dallas, TX and surrounding areas. Call the professionals of Top Notch Body & Mechanics and let our certified mechanics repair your brakes. We are readily available to provide quality repairs.
