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ABS myths debunked
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First, let’s clear up some myths that are still attached to the concept of Anti-Lock Brakes or ABS. First of all, ABS does not, repeat not, allow a vehicle to stop in a shorter distance than non-ABS brakes. What ABS does, and this is important, is allow the driver to make a defensive maneuver of the vehicle with the brakes fully applied. With this factored in, what would have once been a crash is now merely a close call that can be talked about and laughed about later.
The advancement of ABS does require a bit of relearning for those of us who were taught to drive with vehicles not equipped with ABS. The old school method for effective hard braking was to bring the vehicle to the point of “impending lockup” by pumping the brakes and keep the steering wheel straight so as to avoid a skid and ride out the stop.
For ABS to be effective, drivers need a new plan. In simplistic terms, it’s “stomp and steer.” You can stomp on the brake pedal without fear of locking up the brakes and you can still steer around the obstacle. If you pump the brakes you will simply confuse the ABS computer and the stop may take more distance. In those times when you let off the brake pedal during the “pumping” the vehicle may lock up the tires and begin to skid. This means the driver has lost control of the vehicle.
However, if the driver pushes firmly on the brake pedal and steers to avoid the obstacle
or checks and moves into an open lane to avoid a potential crash, the system has done its job.
ABS is so reliable now that I recommend you check the option box (on many new vehicles you don’t have a choice, they come equipped with ABS as standard equipment) and learn how to use it.
Practice in an empty parking lot. Proceed at 35 miles per hour and hit the brakes hard. The driver will feel some pulsing through the pedal and the passengers (there shouldn’t be any passengers involved in the practice) will also feel the pulsing of the vehicle. In older systems, the pulsing was so violent drivers would report that they suffered a flat tire or a warped brake rotor. If the ABS is working correctly these practice panic stops should not cause any unusual tire wear (flat spotting for one) either. If ABS fails, the brake system simply goes back to standard brakes. This test will also tell the driver if the system is working.
Modern ABS systems are slightly smoother, but the pulsing feeling is still there, because that’s what the ABS computer is doing – it is modulating or pumping the brakes while the driver simply “stomps and steers.” Remember practice makes perfect. You don’t want your first experience with ABS to be in a panic stops that really counts.
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