Imagine, you exit the highway into a steep path and sharp turns. You hit the brakes, but nothing happens. Swinging towards the guardrail at a speed of 121 km/h, you might fall into a ravine or lake and become prey to hungry crocodiles. Failing to brake is a terrifying and dangerous experience, no matter where it occurs. Read this article to learn how to stop a car whose brakes don't work properly.
Step
Step 1. Don't panic
Overreacting will only make it more dangerous.
Step 2. Lift your foot off the gas pedal and turn off cruise control (if it is on)
The cruise control system should shut itself off as soon as you touch the brakes or clutch, but to be sure, it's best to turn it off manually.
Step 3. Pay attention to the sensation when you step on the brake pedal
If the sensation is soft and reaches the floor of the car, your brake fluid may be low, the master cylinder is damaged, or there is a problem with the drum or calipers. You may be able to recover some of the brake pressure by pumping the brakes.
However, if your brake pedal is hard and doesn't move, something in your brake system may be stuck or there may be an obstruction under the pedal. Feel it with your feet (or ask the passenger for help) to see if there is anything under the brake pedal
Step 4. Pump your brakes
Pumping the brakes a few times may restore pressure in the brake system to stop your car. This may take a while, so keep trying. It's a good idea to do this even if your car is equipped with ABS, as ABS only activates when the car brakes too hard (which isn't a problem if your brakes fail). Then, regardless of whether the car has ABS, press the brakes firmly against the floor to apply all the pressure that has previously been accumulated as hydraulic (or air) brakes rarely fail completely. Keep pressing the brakes firmly until the car floor.
Step 5. Switch to low gear
Shifting to a low gear helps to slow down the car by using the car's engine. If you have an automatic transmission, downshift to a low range (usually labeled “1” on the mechanism). If you're using a manual transmission, downshift a gear or two at a time, feel the car slow down, and repeat until you reach lowest gear. Be careful not to downshift too quickly, unless the car needs to be stopped immediately. Dropping into first or second gear quickly can take away your control of the car.
- If you have tap-to-shift, switch to manual "M" (usually to the right or left of “Drive” on console-shift vehicles or base gear on column-shift vehicles) and press the minus button to downshift. Again, if you can't get down to the lowest gear right away, try lowering it gradually.
- If you have other ways to slow down the car, such as a retarder, exhaust brake, or Jake brake, use it slowly.
Step 6. Use the emergency brake
The emergency brake, or parking brake, can usually stop the vehicle, although it takes longer because it only brakes the rear wheels. Apply the brakes (depending on your vehicle, emergency brakes are usually pulled by hand or the pedal is applied) slowly and steadily. Emergency brakes can lock your wheels if used too hard or too fast, especially at high speeds. If you apply the emergency brake quickly, the vehicle may lose control. To prevent this, keep the " release " button active (if applicable) when applying the emergency brake. In this way, you modulate the pressure when you apply the brakes.
If you feel or hear your wheels lock, release a little pressure from the brakes and hold them down. Please note, if the wheels squeak a bit, it does not necessarily mean the car wheels are locked. With the E-brake handlebar, you can initially use it for up to three clicks (so a controlled deceleration is possible) and then use an additional click or two (to stop the car completely)
Step 7. Don't take your eyes off the road and keep driving
Pay attention to what's in front of you, and steer the car away from crowds, pedestrians, and dangerous obstacles.
Step 8. Warn other drivers and pedestrians
Turn on your caution light to warn those around you (make sure you know the location of this light switch beforehand). Even if you don't know the cause of the problem yet, a warning will alert others and pay attention to your vehicle. Open the windows and let the air resistance slow down your car and allow you to scream at other drivers and pedestrians.
Step 9. If there is enough space on either side of you, turn sharply left and right
Turning creates friction that slows the car down naturally. If the brakes don't work, try steering sharply left and right. Don't do it at high speed. Turning at high speeds can overturn your car, so be careful.
Step 10. Use your surroundings to slow down your car
If the above methods fail to stop your car, or if the car needs to be stopped immediately, do whatever you can to get the car under control. Ideally, you could use a ramp for trucks, but these are rare so you may have to improvise. However, don't forget that these techniques can be dangerous, especially at high speeds, and should only be used as a last resort.
- Take advantage of the terrain around you. Try to find an incline that can be climbed. If this doesn't stop the car, be prepared to drive backwards and/or apply the emergency brake at the right time.
- Use the guardrail to slow down your car. The splitter is made pear-shaped so that the contact occurs on the wheels, and not on the body of your car. Friction on the tires will slow the car down without damaging the rest of the car. You can also hit from the side slowly, whenever possible.
- Use road friction to slow down the car. Driving through gravel or dirt (which is usually on the side of the road) can slow down the car quickly. Be careful when using this technique. Sudden changes in terrain, especially if it's only on one wheel, can overturn the car and cause serious injury or even death to yourself and others. the approach to the shoulder of a gravel or grassy road should be progressive, smooth, and gentle. After that, the car must be stabilized as it runs along the shoulder of the road.
- Small trees and shrubs will slow the car down if all else fails. Try to steer the car through the middle of a row of shrubs or saplings, being careful not to pick a tree that is too heavy for the car to pass. A tree trunk measuring 116 is considered dangerous to be hit by a vehicle. Big trees can be life threatening.
- Hit the back of another car. Of course, this method should not be the first choice to slow down your car. However, if you have to, you must warn the driver in front of you by honking. Try hitting a car that is traveling at the same speed as you (crashing a slow-moving car or stopping will stop your car, but the deceleration will be sudden and extreme). Try to hit exactly in the middle of the back of the car. Grasping other cars will make your car lose control. Be careful not to hit too hard to deactivate the safety airbag.
Step 11. Find a safe point to stop (or crash)
Look ahead and find a safe location to pull over so you can stop. If you can't stop the car completely, find an open location where you can get to it without hitting anything.
- If all of the above alternatives fail, plan for an emergency collision. The safest method is to find a bulge or undergrowth and hit it so the friction will slow the car down significantly. If there are no bushes, aim for grasses, especially tall grasses. Finally, if there are no shrubs or grass, look for a sandy location. Sand is unstable and definitely slows down the car, especially wet sand.
- If the safest location for an emergency collision requires you to jump over the pavement, you should be extra careful. Even with power steering, the car's initial reaction would be to jerk the steering wheel off your car, bounce off the pavement, and back onto the road. You have to grip the steering wheel firmly and turn it deep enough into the curb so you can pass, but shallow enough so the car doesn't turn completely and make you lose control.
Tips
- You can avoid most brake failures by checking your brake fluid regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. You should also check the entire brake system at regular intervals or if you notice a change in your car's brakes. Do not be lazy to do maintenance and repair of your car brakes.
- The red “brake light” comes on for many reasons, not just to tell you that your parking brake is applied. Every time you start your car, take a look at this light to make sure it's working. If this light comes on when you're driving, you're missing at least half of the car's braking system. If the light comes on when you apply the brakes, it means you have a problem. Most likely due to a lack of brake fluid or a damaged master cylinder.
- Do not change the automatic transmission to park while the car is moving. The parking pawl tying the transmission will not be able to support a moving car.
- The effectiveness of the brakes decreases when wet, especially after slipping or through deep water. When going through this kind of water, you should give a medium acceleration or even downshift. After getting out of the water or a skidding incident, lightly apply the brakes, release, wait, and step back (but don't pump). Thus the pedal can feel soft and supple. Braking a few more times will dry out your brakes.
- If your engine doesn't slow down, reduce its ability to transfer power to the wheels. Point the car where it can slide until it stops as safely as possible. Shift into neutral (this can trigger over-rev and damage the engine or transmission, but you've got a more serious problem).
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Downshift when the car goes downhill. Avoid "riding the brakes" on long descents as the brakes will overheat and damage. Instead, brake until the car is slow enough, slide for a while, then repeat. If necessary, lower the gear again.
If the brakes are too hot, apply the engine brake and reduce the foot brake pressure to slow down the car, stop slowly with the emergency brake, and release the brakes simultaneously. Do not try to cool the brakes with water as this will bend the rotors
- Many cases of “brake failure” result from an object stuck under the brake pedal, such as a toy or soda bottle. Avoid this situation by keeping the car clean and free of trash, especially the area around the driver's seat. Cups and bottles used in cars must be fragile, disposable, and not covered (loose cup caps are fine) when near the driver. These materials can crumble easily if they are under the pedals. Reduce the risk of your car getting messy with drinks that are clear or brightly colored, dairy-free, and/or artificially sweetened free.
Warning
- After you have successfully stopped the vehicle, do not try to restart the car until you are sure the problem is resolved.
- Sudden downshifts can damage your transmission, especially if you're going into reverse gear. Even so, you should do what it takes to stop the car.
- Do not turn off the engine during brake failure because the power steering system is run hydraulically and the engine vacuum is regulated (along with the brake booster). If you panic and turn off the engine, the hydraulic system usually gives you 3 additional power-assisted pumps. Turn the key to the second position (accessory) so that the steering wheel is unlocked.
