Vehicle Advice4 November 2026

Brake Failure While Driving: What South Africans Must Do

Original Motordeal Premium safety graphic: stay calm, slow progressively and move to a safe stopping area.

If your brakes stop responding while driving, keep steering, warn other road users and reduce speed progressively. Lift off the accelerator, try the pedal again, change down and use the parking brake carefully only if needed. Aim for a safe escape area rather than trying to reach your destination.

Information checked: 4 November 2026. Safety guide by the Motordeal Premium Editorial Desk.

What to do if the brake pedal does not stop the car

Stay calm and steer. Look ahead for traffic, pedestrians, barriers and a safe place to leave the road.
Lift off the accelerator. Do not switch off the engine while moving because steering and brake assistance may be reduced.
Press the pedal firmly again. If it feels soft or sinks, pump it several times; a remaining hydraulic circuit may build pressure. If it is hard, maintain strong steady pressure.
Switch on hazards and use the horn if needed. Make the emergency visible without taking your eyes off the road.
Change down progressively. In a manual, select lower gears one at a time. In an automatic, use manual, low or numbered mode if fitted. Never select Park or Reverse while moving.
Apply the parking brake gradually. Hold the release button on a conventional handbrake and increase pressure smoothly. A sudden pull can lock the rear wheels. A sustained pull on many electronic parking brakes commands emergency braking, but operation is model-specific.
Choose a safe escape route. An uphill road, escape lane, broad shoulder or open area is preferable. Avoid people, oncoming traffic and rigid objects.
Once stopped, call for recovery. Secure the car, use a warning triangle only when safe, and do not drive again.

Should you switch off the engine?

Not while moving. Turning it off can remove power assistance and, on some cars, create a steering-lock risk. Switch off only after stopping safely.

Can you use the handbrake?

Yes, but as a controlled backup. A mechanical handbrake acts mainly on the rear wheels, so apply it smoothly. Electronic systems vary; learn your vehicle’s emergency procedure from its owner’s manual before you need it.

What not to do

Do not select Park or Reverse, or remove the key, while moving.
Do not yank a mechanical handbrake at speed.
Do not weave aggressively through traffic.
Do not continue driving if the pedal seems normal again.
Do not crawl under the car or open a hot brake-fluid reservoir roadside.

Why brakes can appear to fail

Possible causes include hydraulic-fluid loss, a damaged hose or pipe, overheated brakes after prolonged downhill braking, worn components, contaminated fluid or a power-assistance fault. A hard pedal may indicate lost assistance; a sinking pedal may indicate a hydraulic fault. Diagnosis and repair belong with a qualified technician.

Reduce the risk before a trip

Act promptly on a red brake warning light or changing pedal feel.
Have fluid, pads, discs, hoses and leaks checked during servicing.
Use a suitable lower gear on long descents rather than riding the brakes.
Do not overload the vehicle.
Know how its parking brake and transmission modes work.

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After the emergency

Tell the workshop what the pedal felt like, which warning lights appeared, how long you had been braking and whether there was noise, smoke or fluid. Request a complete brake-system inspection and a professional braking test, not replacement of a guessed component.

Sources

Arrive Alive: Brake Failure and Road Safety
South African Department of Transport
Your vehicle owner’s manual: braking, transmission and parking-brake sections.

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Quick questions

Should I pump the pedal?

If it is soft or sinking, several firm pumps may build temporary pressure. If it is hard, keep steady pressure and focus on changing down and finding a safe escape route.