Back in the late 60's, I lost my brakes coming up to a red light at the busiest intersection in town! I laid on the horn and did a lot of fancy steering real quick!--around the car in front of me, into the oncoming lane, then a right turn into the cross traffic.
(Thankfully, not hitting anyone or getting hit!) Only then did it occur to me to use the hand brake, which I then did. After I got off on a side street and took a few minutes to collect my wits, I then drove the rest of the way through town, and then home 15 miles using the hand brake. After that, I drove it another 7 miles to a different town, where our mechanic replaced the brake hose that had blown.
