What is the first thing you should do if your brakes fail while driving downhill?

When faced with brake failure while driving downhill, the most crucial action is to get off the road as quickly and safely as possible. This choice prioritizes your safety and the safety of others on the road. By maneuvering your vehicle away from traffic and onto a safe area, such as a shoulder or an escape ramp, you can reduce the risk of a collision and potentially avoid catastrophic outcomes.

Choosing to get off the road gives you more control over the situation. Once out of the way, you can assess your options and take further steps to manage the failure, such as signaling for help or safely stopping the vehicle using other means.

Maintaining speed, pumping brakes, or alerting other drivers, while they may seem like logical responses, can exacerbate the situation or put you and others at risk. Ultimately, the best approach is to prioritize getting your vehicle to a safer location.