Even though some situations on the road are fairly uncommon, it’s still important to know how to handle them so you’re able to make it through safely in the event they do occur. Suddenly finding yourself without operational brakes, for instance, is frightening and dangerous. But you can safely navigate the incident and call for roadside assistance service soon after coming to a stop by keeping these do’s and don’ts in mind.

Do:

Use your emergency brake to come to a stop.

After you’re sure your normal braking system has failed (by pressing the pedal a few times), it’s ok to use your emergency brake to come to a safe stop. Pulling the brake lever suddenly, however, can be extremely dangerous. This can cause your vehicle to spin out and possibly head into oncoming traffic or collide with the surrounding area. Instead, pull it slowly and evenly to make the vehicle come to a gradual stop.

Move the car to a safe location as soon as possible.

Once you’ve confirmed your brakes aren’t working, turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists of a problem. Then, navigate your vehicle to the safest location possible while using the emergency brake to come to a stop. Avoid any high-traffic areas or locations with lots of obstacles and pedestrians, such as parking lots. Once you’ve come to a stop, keep the hazard lights on and contact a roadside assistance service as soon as possible.

Don’t:

Turn the car off before coming to a stop.

Turning the car off will not make it stop any faster. In fact, it can make the situation much more dangerous. Without the engine running, your steering will be limited, and it will be much more difficult to navigate the vehicle to a safe location. Only completely turn off the car once you’re safely stopped.

Panic.

Staying calm is one of the most important decisions you can make in the event of a brake failure. Panicking can cloud your judgment and cause you to make dangerous choices. Breathe slowly and deeply to manage your stress as you work on bringing the vehicle to a stop.

If you encounter a brake failure, Blystone Towing & Radiator in Portage, WI, will be at your side to help as soon as possible. With more than 50 years of towing and roadside assistance experience, the company takes pride in being a reliable and efficient help during unfortunate auto situations. And, with convenient 24-hour service for Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Sauk, Marquette, Green Lakes, Adams, Juneau, and the surrounding counties, you’ll never be without the help you need. Visit the website for a full list of services or call (608) 742-4228 to speak with a friendly representative today.