What should you do if your brakes fail?

If your brakes fail while driving, the recommended action is to pump the brakes and downshift. Pumping the brakes can help build hydraulic pressure in the brake lines, potentially allowing you to regain some braking functionality. This technique may help you slow the vehicle down as you attempt to find a safer way to stop.

Downshifting is also a critical part of this response. By shifting to a lower gear, you can use engine braking to help reduce the speed of the vehicle. This technique is particularly beneficial in manual transmission vehicles, but can also apply to automatic transmissions to some extent, as it brings the engine RPMs up, aiding in deceleration.

In contrast, the other options provided would not help in safely resolving the situation of brake failure. Steering into oncoming traffic increases the risk of a collision, while accelerating does not address the lack of brakes and can worsen the situation. Turning off the engine could cause a loss of power steering and further complicate vehicle control, making it more difficult to steer safely or slow down. Therefore, the best action to take involves utilizing pumping the brakes and downshifting to manage the emergency effectively.