What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

When faced with brake failure while driving, shifting to a lower gear and utilizing the emergency brake is a crucial response to help slow down the vehicle safely. By downshifting, you reduce the speed of the car through the engine's braking power, which can effectively lower your speed and prevent further acceleration.

The emergency brake, also known as the handbrake, is designed to stop the vehicle in case of brake failure. By applying it gradually, you can slow down without causing the wheels to lock up, which may help maintain control. This choice prioritizes safety as it combines both engine braking and the manual braking system to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Other options, such as shifting to a higher gear or simply coasting to a stop, do not effectively address the immediate need for controlled deceleration in a brake failure scenario. Calling for help is certainly a valid action, but in the moment of needing to stop the vehicle, it becomes secondary to taking steps to ensure immediate safety on the road.