If your brakes fail while driving, using the emergency brake is advised. What else should you do?

When faced with brake failure while driving, it’s crucial to take steps that can help slow down or bring the vehicle to a stop safely. Engaging the emergency brake is a vital first action, as it is designed to provide additional stopping power. Putting the vehicle in the lowest gear is also an important step because lower gears increase engine resistance and help slow the vehicle. This can be particularly effective in conjunction with the emergency brake, allowing for a controlled descent in speed.

The other actions, such as changing lanes quickly or steering to the left, could lead to increased risk and confusion. These maneuvers could cause loss of vehicle control or create dangerous situations for other drivers. Pumping the accelerator would not be beneficial and can actually lead to further acceleration, worsening the scenario instead of helping to stop the vehicle. Hence, selecting the appropriate gear to aid in the slowing process is the recommended and most effective response in the event of brake failure.