What should you do if you experience brake failure?

When faced with brake failure, using the emergency brake is essential as it provides a secondary means of slowing down or stopping the vehicle. The emergency brake, also known as the parking brake, is designed to engage the rear brakes of the vehicle independently from the primary braking system. This can help you regain control and reduce speed in a critical situation.

In contrast, shifting into a lower gear can help slow the vehicle but may not be as effective as the emergency brake, particularly if your brakes have completely failed. Accelerating to build up speed can exacerbate the situation and is dangerous since increased speed can make control more challenging. Turning off the engine may prevent you from steering effectively and also does not directly address the need to stop the vehicle. Therefore, using the emergency brake is the most immediate and effective response to brake failure.