My Car's Brake Light Came On While Driving: What Can I Do?

As one of the most important systems in your car, brakes can be the difference between life and death, so it is no small matter if the brake system warning light on the dashboard comes on. It is particularly scary when the light comes on while driving. There are a number of reasons why this could happen, and only one is a quick fix that doesn't require you to get your vehicle seen to by a professional. For all the rest, it indicates a dangerous situation that needs immediate attention.

Dashboard lights are there to warn you of issues with your car, and in modern cars there are a variety of warning lights that indicate problems with the brake system. The easiest thing to do is to check the meaning of the specific warning light in your owner's manual. Here are some potential reasons why you may be getting a warning light:

• The parking brake might be engaged: In some cases, you may pull off and start driving without fully disengaging the parking brake and not noticing that the light was on. A red parking brake light will illuminate. However, if the parking/emergency brake warning light comes on and off while driving, then it may indicate a deeper problem.
• The brake fluid might be running low: The braking system uses brake fluid to amplify the force you place on the pedal and turn it into pressure on the brakes of your car. This liquid maintains the hydraulic pressure of the braking system and is essential to its operation, so if these fluid levels run low, it can cause the brake light warning to illuminate. While there may not be a brake fluid light specifically on all cars, your parking brake illuminating serves as the warning to check your brake fluid levels.
• One or both of the brake lights isn't working: Some modern cars have sensors that monitor the brake light bulbs, and if they are too dim or go out completely, the check brake light may come on.
• Any of the brake pads may be worn out or completely ineffective. The brake pads are what bring your wheels to a stop, and if they are too worn, they take longer to make contact with the wheel and start the braking process. They may not even be able to do this effectively. In new cars, there may be a brake light signal for the pads specifically.
• There may be a malfunction with the ABS. Modern cars sold in the USA are equipped with antilock brake systems, and there is an ABS warning light for when the system malfunctions. This is yet another problem that can't be left unattended, as a failure could cause your brakes to lock up entirely when applied.
• Any of the braking system sensors may be defective. Any of the abovementioned warning lights might also come on if there is a problem with the sensors. While this may not indicate an actual problem, it's not something you can ignore either, as sensors need to report issues accurately. For example, if the parking brake indicator sensor isn't working, you won't get a warning if the brake is left engaged.

A general rule of thumb is that if a dashboard light is amber, it is advisory and means you should be aware of an issue and deal with it sooner rather than later. If it's a red warning light, you'd best deal with it as a matter of urgency. With that in mind, if you're wondering whether it's safe to continue driving with a brake warning light on, here are some things to remember:

• If the parking brake light is on, check if you've released the parking brake correctly.
• If you have and the light remains illuminated, find a safe place to pull over as soon as possible.
• When coming to a stop, pay close attention to the feel of the brake pedal, as this may indicate whether or not the brake fluid is low.
• Keep an ear out for any strange sounds, such as metal-on-metal scraping that could indicate further brake issues.
• Check brake fluid levels as soon as possible and top up if necessary.
• If the fluid isn't the problem, you could connect an OBD scanner or diagnostic tool to get more clarity on what the problem could be.
• Get your vehicle to a professional for evaluation and repair; braking system issues are nothing to sniff at and shouldn't be dismissed.