South Carolina Driver's Permit Practice Exam

What should a driver avoid doing when brakes fail while driving?

1. Press hard on the gas pedal

2. Switching gears

3. Honking the horn

4. Pulling the emergency brake

The correct answer is: Press hard on the gas pedal

When encountering brake failure while driving, pressing hard on the gas pedal is not an appropriate response. In fact, it can exacerbate the situation by increasing speed and making it much more difficult to regain control of the vehicle. The priority in this scenario is to slow down the vehicle safely, and accelerating would be contrary to that goal. Instead, a driver should consider actions like safely shifting to a lower gear to reduce speed (which relates to switching gears), using the horn to alert other drivers, or pulling the emergency brake in a controlled manner to stop the vehicle. Emergency measures should focus on mitigating speed and gaining control, rather than accelerating, which can create a dangerous situation for the driver and others on the road.