If your brakes fail while driving, what is the first action you should take?

The first action to take if your brakes fail is to pump the brakes. This technique can help build up pressure in the brake lines, which might temporarily restore some braking ability and allow you to slow the vehicle down. By quickly pressing and releasing the brake pedal, you may find that it engages enough to bring the car to a stop or at least reduce your speed.

While other actions can be important in a complete emergency scenario, the initial response of pumping the brakes is critical for trying to regain control of the braking system. The other choices, while part of a comprehensive strategy to handle brake failure, are subsequent steps that should be taken if pumping the brakes does not improve the situation.