Your vehicle is going down a long hill and your brakes begin to fail. What should you do?

Shifting to a lower gear and coasting is the correct action to take if your vehicle's brakes begin to fail while going down a long hill. This technique allows the engine to help slow down the vehicle through engine braking. The lower gear increases engine resistance, which can assist in reducing speed more effectively than relying solely on the braking system.

Coasting in a lower gear can provide better control while you assess your situation and decide on further steps to safely bring your vehicle to a stop. This method is particularly essential on a long decline where relying solely on brakes, which may fail, could lead to dangerous over-speeding.

While other options might seem feasible, applying the brakes harder in a situation where you've already encountered failure may not result in the desired effect and could exacerbate the situation. Pulling the emergency brake could potentially cause a loss of control at high speeds, leading to a skid or rollover. Steering off the road might be necessary if you are unable to regain control, but shifting down provides a critical first response to slow the vehicle safely.