What action should you take if your brakes fail while driving?

The correct action to take if your brakes fail while driving is to pump the brake pedal to build pressure. This technique can sometimes restore enough pressure in the brake system to allow for effective braking. By rapidly pressing the brake pedal, you may engage any remaining hydraulic pressure in the brake lines, which can help slow down the vehicle.

While other options might initially seem like viable alternatives, they carry risks that could worsen the situation. Shifting to a lower gear can help slow down the vehicle using engine braking, but relying solely on this may not provide sufficient stopping power, especially if the brake system is completely non-functional. Using the handbrake is also an option, but it is usually intended for slower maneuvers; engaging it too suddenly at higher speeds can lead to loss of control. Steering off the road and hitting a barrier could result in a severe collision, and accelerating to stop quickly is not advisable, as it would likely exacerbate the problem by reducing your control and increasing stopping distance. Therefore, pumping the brake pedal is the safest first action to take in this critical situation.