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How to Handle Your Bike’s Brake Failure

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When you buy a vehicle, whether a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler, you always look to get a vehicle that is safe and would keep you protected at all times. You also purchase the best bike insurance plan to add an extra layer of protection. However, at times, trouble comes uninvited and even after following all safety precautions, you get into a dangerous situation on the roads while riding your bike. One such situation is the brake failure of your bike.

Brake failure is scary, but if you know what to do when it happens, you can stay safe and minimise the damage.

1. Keep the engine running:

This is a very important thing that you must keep in mind. Do not make the mistake of turning off the engine as soon as you realise the brakes have failed. This is especially important for you to remember when there is heavy traffic around you. You need to keep the engine running so that the acceleration is maintained and you can carefully manoeuvre the bike towards the edge of the road. If you suddenly turn off the ignition, there is a good chance that another vehicle may crash into you. So keep the ignition running till the time when you are in relative space. Once there, you can turn off the engine and slowly bring the bike to a stop.

2. Stay on the steady ground:

It would be obvious for you to move away from heavy traffic and take your bike towards the side of the ground after you realise the brakes have failed. While there is nothing majorly wrong with it, you just need to ensure the edge of the road has smooth ground. Often, the road edges are uneven and have stones, rocks and other debris on them. Do not take a bike with failed brakes on such ground, as you may find it difficult to balance it. You can move to the side lane, but never off the road. If you do get off the road, there may be a mishap for which you will need to get a bike insurance claim.

3. Use your bike’s gears wisely:

Apart from the brakes of the bike, the vehicle's gears can also be used to control the speed of the bike. This is possible because your bike is designed to go slow when it's in first gear and go faster when it's in fourth gear. If riding on a higher gear when the brakes fail, gradually reduce the gears. When in first gear and relatively running slow, take the bike to the edge of the road and turn off the ignition. This will give you very good control over the bike and the chances of crashing the vehicle will be marginalised.

4. Alert the people around:

As a responsible rider, the safety of the people around should be as much of a concern for you as your safety. This is why you need to alert the people about the situation at hand. Honk your horns and if possible, shout the problem out so that the people around know exactly what has happened. This will make it easier for them to move and get out of harm’s way. However, if even after this you end up hitting a vehicle, make sure you offer them your third party bike insurance cover as you must do so. Note down their details and do the needful.

5. Stay calm:

And while all this is happening, remember to stay calm. Panicking in such a situation won't help you at all. Keep your eyes on the road, take deep breaths and do the right thing. Once you manage to safely bring the bike to a halt, call for help. If you know of a mechanic who can reach you, call him. Else, call your bike insurance provider for roadside assistance. You will then be able to get your bike moving again.

These are some of the best ways in which you can manoeuvre your two-wheeler to safety when the brakes fail suddenly.

Conclusion

Keep all the points mentioned above in mind and stay prepared to handle emergencies effectively and smartly. Also, keep your bike insurance cover updated and active so that even if there is a mishap, you can use the policy coverage to pay for the damages. Comprehensive and choose the best bike insurance plan that offers the highest degree of cover. This apart, be careful on the road and ride safely. Also, get your bike serviced from time to time to ensure the brakes work well and you never have to get into dangerous situations such as a brake failure in the middle of the road.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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