What is the recommended action if your vehicle's brake system fails?

If your vehicle's brake system fails, the recommended action is to use the emergency brake. The emergency brake, also known as the parking brake, is designed to engage the vehicle's wheels directly and can help bring the vehicle to a stop when the main braking system is not functioning. It is a critical safety feature that can help prevent accidents in the event of brake failure, as it can apply additional braking force to bring the vehicle under control.

Utilizing the emergency brake requires careful consideration and should be done progressively, as pulling it too hard can cause the wheels to lock up, which could lead to a loss of control. It's important to remain calm and focus on bringing the vehicle to a stop safely, while also signaling to other drivers that there is an issue.

While pumping the brake pedal might sometimes temporarily restore brake pressure in certain situations, it is not a reliable method if the entire brake system has completely failed. Shifting into neutral may help reduce speed, but it won't stop the vehicle and could lead to unwanted consequences. Turning off the engine might stall the vehicle but could also remove power from the steering and braking systems, making it more difficult to control the vehicle.