How should you respond when your brakes fail while driving?

When your brakes fail while driving, shifting into neutral and coasting to a stop is a recommended response. This action allows you to disengage the engine from the wheels, reducing the vehicle's speed without the ongoing power from the engine. By coasting, you can maintain better control of the vehicle and steer it safely to a stop. This is essential because it allows you to gradually reduce speed rather than coming to an abrupt halt.

Coasting also provides you with the opportunity to evaluate your surroundings and find a safe area to stop, whether that's pulling over to the shoulder of the road or finding an open space away from other vehicles. This option helps minimize the risk of a more dangerous situation, as it allows you to manage the vehicle's momentum in a controlled manner.

In contrast, using the brake pedal harder is counterproductive when the brakes have already failed and could lead to a loss of control. Turning off the ignition immediately can lead to steering lock and a loss of vehicle control, while using the emergency brake abruptly might cause the wheels to lock up, potentially resulting in a skid.