Stop a car in an emergency situation

If your car is equipped with anti-lock braking system (ABS), keep your foot stomped down, and do not lift off the brake until your car comes to a complete stop. Most of today's vehicles are equipped with ABS that help drivers maintain control of the car by preventing the wheels from locking up. If you do not have ABS, you have to be able to push the brake pedal down hard, but not so hard that you lock up and skid the tires. It takes a lot of skill to do this well, so you could practice in an empty parking lot once in a while. If your brakes do not work at all, try to steer yourself away from traffic and people. Turn on your emergency blinkers. Use your gear selector to downshift into lower gears and, if you have room on either side of you, steer the car sharply from side-to-side to slow you down. If that does not work, sideswipe your car against the guardrail until you are going slow enough to use the hand or foot brake to bring you to a standstill.