Bear Grylls is most known for his wilderness survival shows, where he pushes the limits of his body and cunning in order to get out of impossible scenarios. This time, he's turning to a different survival scenario that requires quick thinking: brake failure.
Pushing down on the brakes and getting no response from the car is never a good feeling. In order to survive, you have to fight that oncoming panic, and take quick action.
Put on your emergency flashers. Pump the brakes to try to get a response. Feather the emergency brake so you slow down without skidding. Shift down through lower gears to let the engine slow the car for you.
Naturally, Bear Grylls has to do everything extreme. As a last-measure, if your car is still picking up speed, you can grind the vehicle against the guard rails, or against the rough ground-off road. You can also zig-zag the car, if you are able to do so without skidding or hitting oncoming traffic. It is usually better to rear-end the car in front of you than to hit an oncoming vehicle head-on, due to the relative speed difference.
The best way to survive brake failure, however, is to never let your brakes fail in the first place. Bring your vehicle in for maintenance and inspection from Sternberg Automotive Sales and Service. If you do find yourself in a worst-case scenario, we also offer collision services and body repair.