The braking system is a vital part of your vehicle and has a massive impact on the safety of it.
When your car goes in for an MOT one of the items they check comprehensively is the brakes. The brakes are one of the most important safety features on a car and if they fail or are worn too low, you could end up in a serious collision.
An MOT is only carried out once a year and between MOT’s it is easy for issues to develop with the brakes. If you wait until your MOT is due to check your breaks you run the risk of driving a vehicle that is not safe. MOT’s do check the braking system but it will not tell you if the brakes are nearly worn, only if they need replacing. The only way to be sure is to remove the wheel and physically have a look at the brake pads and discs to check for damage and wear.
There are a few checks that you can do on a regular basis to keep an eye on your brakes. Pressing your brakes hard (when safe to do so) and checking that you stop in a safe distance is one way to check them but you should take the car to a car repair garage to have them assessed properly.
Some garages will offer a free brake check, which you can take advantage of for peace of mind.