What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

When confronted with brake failure while driving, the appropriate action is to pump the brakes and utilize the emergency brake if necessary. Pumping the brakes can sometimes help build up brake pressure again if there’s a minor issue, allowing for some deceleration. Using the emergency brake provides a secondary means to slow down the vehicle. This action is important because the emergency brake usually engages the rear brakes independently of the hydraulic system used for normal braking, making it a crucial tool in regaining control of the vehicle.

In contrast, simply accelerating could lead to losing control and worsening the situation, as speed would increase and make stopping more difficult. Coasting to a stop without taking other factors, like other vehicles and road conditions, into account is risky and doesn't provide a proactive approach to safely manage a loss of braking capability. Pulling over immediately can be a viable option, but it is not the first course of action when you have the ability to try stopping the vehicle through other means first.