Safeguarding Your Life: Tips to Prevent Vehicle Brake Failure

An entire nation mourned the tragic death of the Attias family, may their memory be blessed, from the settlement of Bar Yohai in the north. Alongside the spiritual questions that arose (detailed answers available in Rabbi Zamir Cohen's lecture, "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People", on the Hidabroot website), safety questions regarding vehicle operation in such scenarios were also asked.

Firstly, it is crucial to understand that brake system defects found in this case are not ones generally detected in licensing tests, but rather in regular vehicle maintenance sessions. During testing, the quality of the braking is checked, not the thickness of the pads and discs. Even worn pads, as thin as 2 mm, can seem functional, yet their condition remains undetected until the vehicle's 10,000-mile maintenance check when wheels are dismantled to directly examine the brake system's efficiency.

If you find yourself in a situation where the brakes are not functioning properly, remember these guidelines:

1. First, activate your hazard lights to alert nearby drivers of your distress, ensuring they keep a significant distance from your vehicle.

2. To slow down, you can utilize the vehicle's gearbox. This can be done with all car types and gear systems, including manual, automatic, Tiptronic, etc. Use engine braking to decelerate the car, shifting gears manually from fourth to third, second, first - at this level, even worn brake pads or the handbrake can bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

How exactly is this done? In a simple automatic gearbox, you can limit gear usage by shifting the lever from D to L (in some cars you'll see S or 3). With a Tiptronic or robotic automatic gearbox, manually adjust gears with the handle in the minus (-) direction, gradually lowering the gear. In a manual gearbox, press the clutch, shift to a lower gear, and release the clutch. After the engine’s RPM increases, repeat the gear lowering process to reach second or first gear, eventually stopping the car.

Downshifting transforms the engine into a brake against vehicle inertia, especially on downhill drives. This may cause the engine to roar louder, yet it won't damage the engine, and in life-threatening situations, engine damage should be the least of your concerns.

3. If slowing via the gearbox is not possible, use the roadside barriers (if present) to decelerate the car. This is extremely dangerous and should be a last resort when all other options are exhausted. Scraping against the barrier will slow the car down to some extent, performed at an angled approach to avoid harsh recoil (as happened with the Attias' minivan). Approach the barrier at the shallowest angle possible, almost parallel to it.

4. Gradually pull the handbrake lever, tooth by tooth, contributing to slowing the vehicle. A sharp pull might result in loss of control, so a slow pull enables gradual, safe deceleration.

5. Do not turn off the engine or fiddle with the ignition key. Turning the key to the initial position (like turning off the car completely) locks the steering wheel and could exacerbate the situation.

Zigzagging on the road may also help reduce speed.

In any case, remember two key things to prevent such situations: regularly service your vehicle, prioritizing safety above all. Additionally, when driving on mountainous terrain with several twists and downhill slopes, ensure to slow down the vehicle (including automatics) using the gearbox system. Limit the gear to slow down the car's momentum and inertia, preventing a scenario where control is lost, leading to extensive brake usage. When speed control is managed mostly with the gearbox, the brakes are spared for when truly needed, making them far more effective.