Yesterday I came down a slight hill and pressed the brakes. I stupidly didn't press hard enough.

Because I approached a red light at a four-way intersection and put my brakes on, I skidded over the crosswalk into oncoming cross-traffic. I had a very close call. I had the brake pads on the rear brake recently replaced. I had called the LBS about judging when I should have the front brake pads replaced, only five minutes or so, before it happened.

Glad you're still alive, and unhurt Just how fast were you going, and how much distance to the intersection when you began braking?

I had a mechanic possibly save my life by noticing that the cables that connect across my very old cantilever brakes were turning to dust. When I went down the steepest hill in town the next day my gratitude for his good work was limitless. Yeah, those brake parts are somewhat important.

I had at least, 30-40ft. to the crosswalk. I was going about 15mph

I had my brakes checked recently. At that time, the brake pads on the rear brake were replaced.

I am a mechanic that tells you that you bike is sick or fine. I am glad that most of you know when something is wrong and get it fixed, by yourself or someone else or ask LBS. You need to have your bike in top shape to compete with a 3-4000lb cars or trucks.

if you actually skidded then your brakes were working fine...

front brake is more important than rear brake.. and if you're even wondering if you should replace a brake pad, just replace it

Absolutely!!!

I had called the bike shop only minutes before and they told what to look for on my brake pads, as a sign they need to be changed.

I still have steel rims on the Trek 1420. with 17 year old brake pads It reminds me of trying to stop the 1956 International 1 ton loaded (10,000lbs). And believe it or not it had power brakes.
The best brakes I have used were on a rental. A Giant Defy.

Better lucky than good? I am glad you told us about your event. It helps to get over possible life changing events.

That was obviously not enough room to completely stop...at least you weren't wearing headphones sorry couldn't resist.
Glad you're OK. Now make sure that your equipment is in good working order and slow down a little earlier so you don't get hurt.

Thankyou, I will definitely do that.

I'm very casual about maintenance, but I don't screw around with brakes. I replace the pads on both bike and car when they're down to about 10 or 20% left, because I know I may very well forget about it for long enough between maintenance sessions, and what the heck, even disc brake pads only cost $6 a set and last a year, why not just replace them?

Learn how to use your front brake....30 to 40 feet at 15 mph....is no problem unless it is wet.....and if the brakes fail turn with the cross traffic! Glad your OK though!