Know Your Car

KNOW YOUR CAR - KNOW YOUR BRAKES

In everyday driving situations, cars with ABS (anti-lock brakes) and those with older-style braking systems are basically identical. In an emergency stopping situation, however, each system requires a distinctly different braking technique.

The beauty of ABS is that pressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and holding it there allows the computer to pump the brakes while still allowing the driver to maintain some steering effectiveness. Remember that ABS can’t perform miracles: if you feel ABS engaging during everyday driving, slow down, because you are exceeding the reasonable speed for the conditions.

With non-ABS brakes, the cadence (pumping) technique is most effective in an emergency, but the driver must lift off  the brake if steering is required to avoid an obstacle.