Defending the Seemingly Inconsequential: Brake Failure on a Steep Hill Whether someone should jump out of their car or try to steer to safety if the brakes go out on a steep hill with sharp turns is a question that many people would debate. There are obviously two sides to the issue, but this paper will argue that steering to safety is the best choice. There are several reasons for this that will be discussed so that a full understanding of the issue can be created. Jumping out of a moving vehicle is very dangerous, even at slow speeds on straight, flat roads. It may look glamorous in the movies, but in reality there is a lot of danger. Someone who jumps from a moving car can lose their footing and fall where the rear wheels would roll over part of their body. They could also fall a long way if the car is somewhere where the shoulder of the road drops off sharply. Another worry with jumping from a moving vehicle is the damage that vehicle could do to others that it might hit while it is still traveling but not being steered. People could be injured or killed...

First, the driver should pump the brakes. Sometimes they will come back slightly if this is done, and some braking power is better than none. It is very important, especially on a steep, curvy hill where the vehicle will pick up speed very fast and may easily get out of control, to slow the car down as quickly as possible. If pumping the brakes does not work, the emergency brake should be used, and the car should be shifted into neutral on a flat road (National, 2004). Neutral, however, is not recommended on a hill. This is hard on the vehicle, but the main concern at that point would be the safety of the driver. The vehicle can be replaced, but the person cannot.
Shifting into a lower gear is also helpful in this instance, as it will also work to slow the vehicle. If these things do not appear to be…