Official State of Rhode Island website

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State of Rhode Island, Division of Motor Vehicles , Department of Revenue

Total Brake Failure

If you put your foot on the brake and the pedal goes (directly) right to the floor:

  1. Pump the brake pedal even if your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock braking system. Pumping might temporarily restore enough brake fluid pressure to slow or stop your vehicle. You will know after three (3) or four (4) pumps if your brakes are going to hold.
  2. Downshift to a lower gear. This uses the braking power of the engine to slow your vehicle.
  3. Engage the parking brake. You can quickly release the parking brake for a moment if the vehicle begins to skid.
  4. Search for an open zone. You can still steer. As a last resort, rub the wheels against a curb to reduce speed. If a collision is unavoidable, steer for a sideswipe rather than colliding head-on into something solid.

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