Imagine you’re exiting the freeway on a ramp, and start braking. Unfortunately, nothing happens. Of course, your heart is going to start beating too fast, but try not to panic. Take a few deep breaths, and use your engine to try to slow the car down. If that doesn't work, you may need to use friction, such as a guardrail, to slow the car.

If you can communicate immediately with the car ahead of you, and that driver is willing to take the risk, it might work. But you'd have to be ready to take responsibility for any damage to the other car.

If your vehicle is equipped with manual transmission, it won't allow you to switch to reverse gear during forward motion. For automatic transmission vehicles, switching to reverse (R) mode from Drive (D) wouldn't be of any effect until your vehicle comes to a halt. In either case, it wouldn't be of much help. Additionally, reverse (R) during forward motion may also hurt your gearbox. The best bet would be down shifting in quick successions, relying on engine braking to control your vehicle. Using handbrakes will also help lowering the speeds marginally if not dramatically.

When an automatic transmission is put into park, a small lever (the parking pawl) engages a gear to prevent motion of the transmission output shaft. If this shaft is not stationary when the car is put into park (what is being suggested here), the pawl will not engage and the car will not slow down. It may even break off, leading to extensive transmission damage and even more problems.

No. If you turn off your car, you will immediately lose your power steering, as well as the ability to rebuild pressure in the system by pumping the brakes. Instead of turning the car off, try pumping the brakes, downshifting to a lower gear, and the other instructions listed above.

No, it's extremely dangerous. Your rear brakes help prevent you from losing control if you have to suddenly stop. For instance, if you were driving in the rain or snow and suddenly needed to stop to avoid an accident, your front wheels could lock up and you'd lose control of your vehicle, which could result in a serious accident. If your back brakes are out, have them replaced or repaired before you get back out on the road.

Yes, your emergency brake can stop your car if your main brakes aren't functioning properly. However, activating your emergency brake while you're moving at high speeds can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and potentially get into a serious accident. Try to slow your car as much as you can by either applying your standard brakes or allowing your car to coast until it slows down. Then, activate your emergency brakes and keep them on to keep your car from moving.

If your brake pads start wearing down and you can hear a grinding sound, you need have them replaced as soon as possible. You could get into a serious accident or damage your vehicle's braking system. If you notice your brakes are acting up or making a funny noise, avoid getting out on the open road. Instead, drive straight to a mechanic or an auto supply shop and get the brake pads replaced.

Keep your eyes on the road and continue to steer. Pay attention to what’s in front of you, and maneuver to avoid heavy traffic, pedestrians, and dangerous obstacles. You may be close to stopping, but you could still cause damage if you're not paying attention.

If you absolutely can't stop your car another way, try dragging it along or over something to slow it. For instance, run the car along a curb or wall barrier, which will slow it, though it will likely destroy it in the process.

If other methods fail, turning the engine off can at least cut your speed off. Wait until you've slowed down as much as you possibly can before trying this method, as suddenly shutting the engine off can make you swerve. It can also damage your engine, though, so leave this as a last resort.

If you can, look for a road that's going uphill, even if it's only slightly. If your car isn't braking, the slope may slow it down enough to come to a stop. For instance, even going up an on-ramp may slow you down, but be sure to stay out of the way of other cars if possible.

This action won't stop the car on its own. However, it may help to slow you down a little. Plus, it enables you to shout to other passengers and drivers as needed.

If you still aren't stopped, pull up on the emergency brake. That's usually the large lever that's next to the driver's seat in most cars, though in some, it may be a pedal you push. The emergency brake may still be working even if your other brakes aren't.

Did You Know? Over time, air can get into your car's brake lines. This can be dangerous, so you should get your brakes checked by a mechanic every year to make sure they're up to standards.

Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine voted his shop one of the Best 10 Operations in the Country.

When your brakes fail, often they will only partially fail. You may still have some brakes in place, and pumping the brakes may be enough to slow you to a complete stop. After pumping a few times, press the brakes all the way to the floor to see if you have any pressure left.

Look for a place to get off the road. You want to cause as little damage as possible to you and other vehicles, so get away from the main thoroughfare if possible. If you're on the freeway, get off it if you can.

If you're driving a manual, press the clutch and downshift into the next gear down. This will begin to slow the car. Keep shifting down as you feel the car slow down. If you're in an automatic, use the gear selector to shift to second. Then, shift to first (also sometimes marked as "L" or "lower").

Take your foot off the gas and/or turn off the cruise control. Lifting off the gas will begin to slow the car down, just by virtue of friction and gravity. Also, your cruise control system should turn off as soon as you touch the brake or clutch, but to be safe, make sure to switch it off manually.

Turn your hazard lights on to warn other drivers. While they may not be able to figure out what the problem is, your hazard lights will tell other drivers to proceed with caution and pay attention to what your vehicle is doing. Your hazard light button should be somewhere on your dashboard, and the symbol for them is an orange triangle inside an orange triangle.

This video from features nationally recognized driver safety expert Dr. William Van Tassel, Manager of Driver Training Operations at the American Automobile Association's (AAA) National Headquarters. He explains different types of braking systems, how to tell what system you have, and what to do if your brakes go out.

Brakes can become less effective if they get wet, especially after hydroplaning or going through deeper water. When going into such water, it's best to apply light acceleration or even downshift. When exiting the water or recovering from a hydroplaning incident, press the brakes down moderately lightly, release, wait, and reapply (but do not pump). If the pedal feels spongy and soft reapply the brakes a few more times in the same way to dry them.

That red "brake light" comes on for a lot of reasons, not just to tell you that your parking brake is engaged. Every time you start the car, see if it flashes to make sure it's working. If it comes on while you're driving, you've lost at least half of your braking system. If it comes on while you're applying the brakes, you have a problem – most likely low brake fluid or a faulty master cylinder.

You can avoid most instances of brake failure by regularly checking your brake fluid and changing it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You should also have your entire brake system inspected at regular intervals or if you notice any change in the performance of your brakes. Don’t put off making necessary repairs or performing routine maintenance.

Many "brake failure" cases are brought about by an object getting stuck under the brake pedal, such as a toy or a soda bottle. Avoid this situation by keeping your car clean and free of debris, especially the area around the driver’s seat.

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