Saskatchewan SGI Driving Practice Test

How should you react if your brakes begin to fail?

1. Pump the brakes and apply pressure gradually

2. Shift into neutral and steer to safety

3. Accelerate to clear traffic before stopping

4. Turn off the engine immediately

The correct answer is: Shift into neutral and steer to safety

When faced with brake failure, reacting appropriately is crucial for maintaining control of the vehicle and ensuring safety. Shifting into neutral and steering to safety allows you to reduce speed safely while giving you the ability to maneuver the vehicle. By disengaging from the drive train in neutral, you prevent additional acceleration from the engine, which can be especially helpful if you're on a downhill slope. Steering towards a safe area, such as the shoulder of the road or an open space, will help you avoid collisions with other vehicles. This action is vital because it also allows you to take advantage of any remaining friction in the braking system, enabling you to slow down using engine braking if required. Choosing this approach focuses on regaining control and minimizing risks, while the other options may not effectively address the immediate loss of braking capability. For instance, rapidly pumping the brakes could be ineffective if there's a total loss of brake pressure. Accelerating in an attempt to clear traffic can lead to dangerous situations, and turning off the engine immediately may disable power steering, making it harder to control the vehicle. Thus, shifting into neutral and steering to safety is the most prudent and strategic response in such a critical situation.