What action should you take if your power steering suddenly fails?

When power steering fails, the vehicle becomes more challenging to maneuver because the steering wheel will feel heavy. The correct action is to work hard to steer and reduce your speed. Keeping control of the vehicle is essential, especially when navigating through traffic or approaching a stop. By reducing speed, you can better manage the vehicle's handling and prepare to pull over safely.

Turning on your hazard lights is important for alerting other drivers of your situation, but simply doing that without taking control of the steering will not address the immediate need to manage the vehicle. Honking the horn may draw attention, but it does not contribute to safety in terms of vehicle control. Slamming on the brakes can lead to a loss of control, especially if the steering is already compromised. Therefore, maintaining control while gradually decreasing your speed is the safest response to power steering failure.