1. I HAD JUST LEFT THE HOUSE TO GO TO WORK. I PULLED OUT ON TO THE MAIN STREET WHERE A NORMAL AMOUNT OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WAS STAGED. ADDITIONALLY, ROAD WORK WAS BEING DONE, SO VEHICLE SPEED WAS VERY SLOW. I COASTED FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET AND PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. WHEN I DID NOTHING HAPPENED, IT DID NOT STOP. IN ADDITION, THE IDLE RACED SLAMMING ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY TRUCK BUMPER, BUT NOT TO THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME. ALSO, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE BRAKES WENT HIGH AND HARD AND THE BRAKES EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, THE LATE AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC HAD AFFORDED ME AN OPENING TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND DRIFTED OVER. MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE DIED THAT DAY HAD I NOT HAD GOD AND QUICK REFLEXES.