What should you do if you experience a brake failure while driving?

When experiencing a brake failure while driving, the best course of action is to shift into neutral and coast to a safe stop. This method allows you to maintain better control of the vehicle and gradually reduce your speed without relying on the brakes, which are compromised. By coasting, you can assess your surroundings and look for a safe place to bring the vehicle to a stop, such as an open area or a side road.

Pumping the brake pedal in an attempt to regain braking power can be ineffective if the brakes have completely failed. Accelerating to gain speed would only increase the danger and reduce control over the vehicle in a critical situation. Turning off the ignition is also not advisable, as it would disable power steering and power brakes, making it even more difficult to control the vehicle, especially at higher speeds. Therefore, coasting to a stop while shifting into neutral is the safest and most effective response to brake failure.