Although most drivers will never have to
experience it, it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Instructions

1. Size up the traffic situation and base your
decisions on the whereabouts of other
vehicles, intersections or steep hills.
2. Look for a safe place to steer your car and
quickly downshift to low gear (this applies to
both manual and automatic transmissions).
3. Build up your brake pressure by pumping
the brake pedal fast and firmly. It should take
three or four pumps to get the brakes to
work. Don't pump anti-lock brakes -- press
down hard on them instead and plan on
taking longer to stop. It is normal to feel
pulsation at the brake pedal if you have anti-
lock brakes.
4. Use your parking brake if the pumping
solution is ineffective or not recommended.
Release it quickly if the car starts to skid.
5. Don't forget to steer. Swerve only if it's
absolutely necessary -- doing so can cause
you to lose control of the car.
6. Throw your car into reverse if all else fails.
Note that this can cause serious damage to
your transmission.

Have you ever tried throwing your car into reverse while traveling forward? Its almost as impossible as trying to stop the car with your feet dragging on the floor as brakes.

Its not an advisable thing to do when driving an automatic transmission car as first, its almost impossible for you to put the car into reverse if it hasn't come to a complete standstill.

Secondly, Most modern automatics come with a shift locking mechanism that stops the selector from being accidentally shifted into reverse from neutral.

Forcing it into reverse may not necessarily help but severe damage to your transmission may occur and may not help in stopping in an emergency.

The same thing applies in manual gearboxes. Trying to engage reverse gear while the sychcromesh gears are rotating for forward drive is almost impossible even at low speeds. Best advice is to drop your gears to allow the engine to slow you down or gently apply the hand brake.

Brake failres rarely occur if you maintan and regularly service your brake components.