Myth or Fact: Is Brake Failure in Automatic Cars More Likely to Happen? Don't Panic, Here's How to Overcome It!
Automatic cars are still a favorite for some drivers, especially those who want convenience without the hassle of shifting gears every time they want to change the speed of the vehicle. However, because of this, there are rumors that brake failure in automatic cars is more prone to occur. Is it true?
To find out, you can listen to the following explanation. It also explains how to deal with brake failure in automatic cars.
Myth or Fact?
The ease of operation indeed makes automatic cars very popular. At this point, it turns out to also be a weakness of automatic cars. The absence of a gear shift as a facility to change the speed of the vehicle and relying solely on the brakes can impact the condition of the brakes.
When passing through downhill areas or congested areas, automatic cars rely solely on the brakes to reduce speed. In fact, frequent use of the brakes can cause vapor lock.
Vapor lock is a condition where air vapor enters the brakes. If this happens, the brake function can be disrupted or even fail.
If asked whether the vulnerability of brake failure in automatic cars is a myth or fact, it can happen if the engine is not well maintained and used beyond reasonable limits. So, as long as you take good care of the engine, such things will not happen.
How to Deal with Brake Failure in Automatic Cars
However, brake failure can occur at any time. If you experience it on the road, here are some things you can do. Let's take a look!
1. Don't Panic!
The first thing you need to do is to keep calm. Don't panic! When we panic, we can't think clearly. Especially when we start imagining many terrifying things like accidents and others.
2. Turn on Hazard Lights and Honk the Horn
After overcoming the panic and calming down, immediately signal to other drivers on the road by turning on the hazard lights. By doing these two things, you are helping other drivers to be more cautious and avoid your car to prevent further dangerous situations.
Honk the horn is also very necessary because usually, the hazard lights may not be clearly visible, so other drivers in front of your car may not be aware of it.
3. Shift the Transmission
The next step is to try to slow down the vehicle. Even without brakes, you can still reduce the speed of the vehicle by shifting the transmission lever.
Shift the transmission lever from D to S. This shift in the transmission position will help slow down the speed a bit. However, this may be less effective if the car is going downhill.
Another option is to shift it to position L as the lowest gear so that the vehicle can slow down even more. If this is still not effective due to the downhill slope, don't worry. There is still another option, which is to use the handbrake.
4. Pull the Handbrake
The handbrake is not used unless in an emergency. Especially if the vehicle is moving very fast, using the handbrake is not recommended because the car could skid and become dangerous. However, in the case of brake failure, the handbrake is certainly the last option we can take, right?
You must use the handbrake very carefully and slowly so that the car does not get startled. Do this continuously until the vehicle truly slows down and can be stopped.
5. Take it to the Nearest Workshop
Once the car has been successfully controlled, you can stop for a moment to calm down. When you feel calm, take the car to the nearest workshop to have it checked properly.
You can continue to drive the car very carefully or call a tow truck to take it to the workshop.
That is the explanation regarding brake failure in automatic cars, from the reasons for brake failure to how to deal with it when experiencing brake failure on the road. Certainly, a calm attitude is very much needed, so everything ends safely.
The latest technology from Daihatsu helps drivers reduce the risk of accidents. A.S.A technology developed in Japan is present in the latest Daihatsu Rocky. The safety of drivers is the top priority for Daihatsu.
To avoid brake failure in automatic cars, you can perform regular engine checks.
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
