Have you ever had a car’s brakes fail on you while driving it? Should these guys have steered for the road edge instead? How would you have responded?

Question

I feel like they should’ve just not done such a fast and hard road acceleration to begin with. The guy obviously floored it as soon as he got the green light.

Granted I get that they are muscle car enthusiasts and it is exciting for them, as it would be exciting for me as well and I definitely would’ve done the same exact thing for the thrill of it.

But they would’ve been far better served taking the car somewhere else like the highway instead of trying to drive through several sets of traffic lights along a main roadway

What an unfortunate end though to such an expensive machine.

nolabels · Accepted Answer

This is assuming that the emergency brake is also inoperable.

If I had a manual transmission, I'd gear down and cut the ignition. I'd soon be stopped.

With an automatic transmission, I'd throw it into reverse, then continue to manipulate the transmission as I find necessary to minimize the threat to personal safety. I wouldn't be worried about the mechanical damage being done to the car by doing so. If the mechanical carnage wrought by the manipulation of the transmission doesn't cause a full stop, I'd look to steer to a friction inducing area that would cause a full stop with a minimum of damage.

There may be better ways to deal with such a situation. I related that which immediately came to mind.

The contents of the video posted in this question appear to be all too real to be able to say that it was staged. The driver is clearly a 'car' guy, yet in the moment, he had no idea what to do to mitigate the situation.

I'd like to say that I would have reacted as I outlined above, but in the moment, who's to say what I would do.

tfan1 · Accepted Answer

Yes my 1984 trans ams brake lines failed. I was doing 35 down the road and hit the brakes because the stop light was ahead along with another car stopped in front of me with his taillights on. I had never been in this situation so no brakes, I pulled the emergency brake but wasn’t stopping fast enough. Last resort - I put the car into park and you could hear it going grrrrrrr grrrr grrr grrr grinding sounds. I knew my transmission was being destroyed but better that than rear ending someone. The car stopped finally and no one got hit or hurt. I brought it back into overdrive and called my dad and told him what happened. He said flip your emergency lights on and go about 35 till you get home or slower. Long story short, got home successfully. Had to have new brake lines put in. Transmission still worked for a long time after that then had to have it rebuilt. 👍🙂

chrissykerdock · Accepted Answer

i had my brakes fail and i was going towards a fence and just below was a river when i used the emergency brakes... now what if the emergency didn't work

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Yeah. My car had a leak in the break hose, resulting in loss of 90% break power. I learned to break with the lower gears and the handbrake. It was an interesting drive to the repair shop.
Losing power steering is also an interesting experience, especially with wide-base tires.

Anonymous · Answer

No, but that must a very scary feeling and especially if I was driving fast.

Quigly · Answer

There was no place to go, they knew there was a problem with the brakes when they left for a drive and didn't want to postpone the shoot. That is where they made their mistake.

They didn't take the signs something was wrong seriously.

Likes2drive · Answer

Yeah one time but I felt it starting to happen and so I just started pumping the brakes each time and slowly took it back home, turns out the brake line was rotted

Redstang88 · Answer

A few times, just downshifted until I could get off the road

peedy · Answer

Put it on neutral and shut it off and coast to a stop

slatyb · Answer

Not a car but a go-kart at about 70mph.

Have you ever had a car’s brakes fail on you while driving it? Should these guys have steered for the road edge instead? How would you have responded?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Have you ever been cussed out by another driver?