One of the most shocking experiences for anyone who is driving is noticing that their car brakes are no longer working, and everyone hopes it will never happen to them but we still need to prepare ourselves for such a dangerous situation by getting familiarized with the tips that can help us to stop as safely as possible, because in the end, it is our lives that matter, and if we can protect our cars in the process, that will be good too but if we can’t, losing the car is better than losing our life.
There are several things for us to do when we find out that our car brakes are not working, and all these tips here work hand-in-hand in ensuring we get away from the situation as safely as possible all the while being safe on the road for yourself and for the other drives on the roads so without anymore further delay, here is what to do if your car brakes don’t work that everyone needs to know.
Don’t Panic
The number one thing on the list of what to do if your car brakes don’t work is to not panic, that is the first thing everyone needs to do whenever any problem arises because panicking does not and never solves anything, so when it happens, you need to have a clear head and it will be able to help you further when you are behind the wheel. The first thing that needs to be on your mind is to get your car off the road safely.
Try The Brakes Again
Once you have noticed that your car brakes are not working and you have remained calm, the next thing on the list of what to do if your car brakes don’t work is to try the brakes again. Many modern day cars have a dual braking system that controls the front and rear brakes interdependently, unless if you’re driving a classic car. So with that being said, in order for your car to totally lose all its braking power, both of those braking systems need to fail. Don’t forget to try to apply strong and consistent pressure to the brake pedals to see if you can slow the car down.
Carefully Engage Emergency Brake
The next thing to do if your brakes don’t work is to carefully engage the emergency brake. So if your main braking system is not working, then the next option you have is to very carefully engage the emergency brake. Since it is seperate from the main hydraulic braking system, it may help to stop the vehicle, though it will take a longer time than usual to stop your car this way instead of using the traditional brake pedal.
Downshift Into A Lower Gear
One of the most important things on what to do if your car brakes don’t work is to know that there is another way to slow your car down and that is to downshift into a lower gear. If you are driving a manual car, then you need to keep your foot off the accelerator and downshifting so that the engine can help slow down the car, if you are driving an automatic car, then all you need to do is to keep your foot off the accelerator and it should cause your car to shift to a lower gear as it gradually slows down.
Safely Get Off The Road
The next thing on what to do if your car brakes don’t work is to safely get off the road. So after you have slowed your car down, it is incredibly important for you to get your car off the road to significantly minimize the chances of getting hit. If you are on the highway, or a larger road, you need to focus on getting your car to a safe side of the road where you are not in the way of other drivers and you can stay safe when you are stopped. Remember to cautiously change lanes and when you arrive at the safe side of the road, turn on your hazard lights.
Don’t Turn The Car Off Until You’ve Stopped
This is one of the most important things to know on what to do if your car brakes don’t work and that is to not turn the car off until you have stopped. For many, it will seem like a good idea to turn your car engine off to help slow down the car but you if you do this, it usually turns off your power steering and this will make it incredibly harder for you to turn and it could also cause the wheel to lock in place, so you want your car to stop first before you turn the engine off to be safe.
Signal For Help
Once you have come to a safe stop, the next thing you can do is to signal for help, because you will probably need help to get your car safely off the road. You can make it obvious that you need help by raising your car hood and keeping your hazard lights on and if you have reflective triangles, or road flares, be sure to use them as well. Don’t stand next to or behind your car, and then you can use your phone to call for roadside assistance.
Get Your Brakes Inspected By A Professional
After all that, if your brakes start to work normally again, it is crucial that you seek professional help to inspect your brakes, because there is definitely something wrong. Be sure to do this before you start to drive your car again because it could happen again. It is important to know that you can reduce the risk and prevent this situation from ever happening by having your car’s brakes checked regularly.
Conclusion
There you have it, now you know what to do if your car brakes don’t work, these instructions are simple and can help you to safely stop, but more importantly, it will protect you and your car. These is also another way for you to protect your car as much as possible and that is to get motor insurance. Fortunately for us AXA is offering motor insurance that is incredibly affordable and reliable, click here to find out more about this amazing product and take action today to get motor insurance.