If your brakes fail, what action should you take first?

Answer: B — Shift to a lower gear

When faced with brake failure, the most effective immediate action you can take is to shift to a lower gear. Engaging a lower gear helps to naturally decrease the vehicle's speed through engine braking, allowing better control over the vehicle. By reducing your speed, you establish a greater ability to navigate the situation safely and prepare for further actions, such as steering to avoid obstacles or seeking a safe area to come to a complete stop. This technique is particularly critical because shifting gears can help to slow the vehicle down without relying solely on the brake system. Additionally, this action can be taken quickly and is straightforward, making it easier for a driver to implement during a moment of stress. Turning off the ignition, while it may seem like a logical choice, can lead to a loss of steering control and power to other systems, which is highly dangerous. Pumping the brake pedal may provide limited assistance, but if the brakes have failed completely, this technique may prove ineffective. Speeding up to avoid a collision is an unsafe action that could increase the risk of an accident.