Imagine exiting the highway and taking the steep ramp with a very tight curve. You try to brake, but the car doesn't slow down. You approach the guard rail at 130 km / h and prepare to fly into the nearby pond full of fire-breathing crocodiles.
This is perhaps an unlikely scenario, but a brake malfunction is still a frightening and very dangerous experience. To learn how to stop a car when the brakes don't work, read the instructions below.
Steps
Step 1. Don't panic
Stay calm or the situation will be even more dangerous.
Step 2. Take your foot off the throttle and disable cruise control if set
Step 3. Pay attention to how the brake pedal behaves
If it is soft and reaches the limit, you may have problems with the brake fluid circuit, a malfunctioning brake piston. You may be able to restore some pressure by pressing the pedal repeatedly.
-
However, if the brake pedal is hard and does not move, some component of the brake system may be blocked or there may be something obstructing the pedal. Check if there is something stuck under the pedal that is blocking it.
Stop a Car with No Brakes Step 3Bullet1
Step 4. Press the pedal repeatedly
Doing so could restore enough pressure in the brake system to allow the car to stop. It may take time, so keep trying. You should do this even if your car has ABS, because it only activates when the car is braking too hard (not your case as the brakes don't work). Therefore, quickly push the pedal all the way down to take advantage of the remaining pressure or the one you have restored, because hydraulic brakes rarely stop working completely. Keep the pedal fully depressed.
Step 5. Downshift to a lower gear
Take advantage of the engine brake by shifting to a lower gear. If you have an automatic gearbox, downshift gears one at a time to first gear. If you have a manual gearbox, shift down one or two gears at a time, and when the car slows down, shift down again. If you don't need to stop in as little space as possible, pay attention to downshifting; you may lose control of the car and damage the engine.
- If you have a sequential gearbox, set it to manual control (generally by placing the lever to the right or left of the Drive ("D") position or in the last position down) and move the gear to the minus symbol. You will likely have to downshift one gear at a time.
- If you have an additional mechanism available to slow the car, use it slowly
Step 6. Use the handbrake
The handbrake can stop the car, but it takes longer because it usually only brakes the rear wheels. Brake (by moving the lever up or pressing the pedal, depending on the type of handbrake of your car) slowly and gradually; if you do it too fast you run the risk of locking the wheels, especially at high speed and this will increase your braking distance and could cause you to lose control of the car.
-
If you feel the wheels lock, reduce your braking intensity. Note that if you hear the wheels whistling, it doesn't mean they are locked. With a traditional handbrake, it initially applies three clicks (for controlled braking) and then progressively increases by one or two to stop the car.
Stop a Car with No Brakes Step 6Bullet1
Step 7. Keep your eyes on the road and continue to hold the wheel
Pay attention to what is in front of you and drive avoiding traffic, pedestrians, and dangerous obstacles.
Step 8. Warn other drivers and pedestrians of your situation
Light the four arrows, and use your horn to warn others that you have a problem. (Make sure you know the location of the four arrow button so you can find it right away in an emergency.) While they may not immediately understand what the problem is, such warnings will prompt them to proceed with caution and pay attention to the behavior of your vehicle. Open the windows to increase aerodynamic drag and to shout at passers-by and other motorists.
Step 9. If the road is clear in both lanes, swerve sharply from side to side
Steering will create more friction between the wheels and the asphalt, slowing the car. Don't do it at high speed. You could cause the car to overturn or spin, so be careful.
Step 10. Use what's around you to slow down the car
If you have not been able to stop the car with the previous tips, or if you need to stop quickly, do everything you can to stop your run. You will probably be forced to improvise. Remember that it can be very dangerous to use these techniques - only do it as a last resort.
-
Use the terrain to your advantage. Try to drive the car uphill. If you can't stop, be prepared to drive in reverse and / or use the emergency brake at the right time.
Stop a Car with No Brakes Step 10Bullet1 - Use the guardrails to slow down your car. Lean on the guard rails to create friction, and if you can limit contact to the wheels, in order to preserve the car body.
-
Use the friction of the ground to slow down. Driving on gravel or dirt can slow down your car a lot. Be very careful when using this technique. Sudden changes of terrain - especially if only one wheel is on different terrain - can cause the car to tip over or spin, resulting in serious injury or death in the worst cases. The entry into a gravelly ground or a grassy hill must be done in a progressive and gentle way. This will make it easier to control the off-road machine.
Stop a Car with No Brakes Step 10Bullet3 -
Small trees and shrubs will slow down your car. Try driving the car towards a line of bushes or saplings, making sure there are no trees that can seriously damage your car. Trees with a trunk diameter greater than 116 mm are considered dangerous for people inside a car. Larger trees can prove fatal.
Stop a Car with No Brakes Step 10Bullet4 - Dab another car. While this is a last resort, it will slow down your car. If unavoidable, try to warn the driver of the car you are about to collide by honking the horn. Try to hit a car that is moving at about the same speed as you. (Hitting a much slower or parked car will allow you to stop faster, but the deceleration will be abrupt and extreme.) Side hits will likely cause both vehicles to lose control. Be very careful not to cause an impact that opens the airbag.
Step 11. Look for a safe spot to pull over (or stop your run)
Study the road ahead to find a safe area to pull over once you have stopped. If you can't stop, look for an open space where you can continue without hitting anything.
- If all of the above methods don't work, schedule the incident. The best method is to look for a clump of bushes and use the friction of the branches to stop the car. If you can't find suitable bushes, try looking for grass, preferably tall. If none of these are available, look for sand.
- If the safest place to stop your running car requires jumping over a curb, take extra precautions. Even with power steering, the steering will tend to slip out of your hands and steer the car away from the curb and towards the road. It is very important that you tighten the steering wheel tightly and drive your car at a sufficient angle towards the curb to pass it, but not large enough for you to spin.
Step 12. You managed to stop the car
Well done!
Advice
- To avoid the problem with your brakes due to something getting stuck under the pedal, keep the car clean and tidy, especially in the driver's area. Use paper or plastic cups and bottles that can be easily compressed by pedal pressure.
- To avoid facing a brake system malfunction, have your brake fluid and entire system checked regularly at regular intervals, especially if you notice a change in brake effectiveness. Do not postpone necessary repairs and scheduled checks.
-
Shift down when driving downhill. Avoid using the brakes too much when driving downhill by taking advantage of the engine's braking action in low gears. This will prevent the brakes from overheating and from malfunctioning.
If the brakes have overheated, use the engine brake to slow down, and the hand brake to stop, trying not to use traditional brakes. Do not try to cool the brakes with water, you could damage the mechanical components
- The brakes can become less effective if they get wet, especially after driving on flooded roads. When forced to drive in these conditions, always keep a low speed and do not use high gears. Once out of the water, test the brake pedal a couple of times, until it regains its usual consistency.
- Do not put the shift lever in the park position while the machine is in motion. You will cause damage and the brake will not be able to stop the car.
- The red brake light on the dashboard activates for many reasons, not just to tell you that you have activated the handbrake. Every time you start your car, check for the warning light to make sure it is working. If it comes on while you drive, you will have lost at least half of the effectiveness of the brakes. If it comes on when you brake, you have a problem - probably a low fluid level or a malfunctioning cylinder.
Warnings
- Do not stop the engine if the brakes do not work. The power steering system and the braking system are hydraulic and are regulated by the engine. If you panic and turn off the engine, the hydraulic system will still work for a short time. Turn the key to at least the second position to prevent the steering lock from being activated.
- Sudden downshifts can damage your transmission. Especially if you put the car in reverse. That said, do whatever it takes to stop the car.
- Once you have managed to stop the car, do not get behind the wheel until you are sure that the problem is solved.
Sources
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/worst_case_scenarios/1289336.html Popular Mechanics Magazine] - Article on the same topic.
- Defensive Driving Online
- https://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q4/how_to_deal_with_unintended_acceleration-tech_dept
