AS I WAS GENTLY APPLYING MY BRAKES IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, GOING ABOUT 50MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SOFT AND DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ALSO STARTED TO FLASH AND CHIME. I SWERVED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND PLOWED THROUGH SOME PLANTS ON THE SHOULDER PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP WITH MY PARKING BRAKE. *TR