What should you do if your brakes fail?

When faced with brake failure, shifting to a lower gear and using the emergency brake is the most effective response. Shifting to a lower gear helps slow down the vehicle as it engages the engine's resistance to the movement, which can assist in reducing speed without relying on the brakes. The emergency brake, also known as the parking brake, is designed to work independently of the regular brakes and can provide additional stopping power when the regular brake system fails.

Turning off the ignition may lead to loss of steering control and can cause further issues by disabling essential systems, including power steering. Accelerating and steering off the road could lead to a loss of control and increase the risk of a collision. Continuously honking the horn is not a practical solution and does not address the immediate need to slow down or stop the vehicle safely. Therefore, utilizing a lower gear combined with the emergency brake is the best course of action in this situation.