Your car is fitted with anti-lock brakes. You need to stop in an emergency. You should _________.

Related Information

Do and Don’t with ABS

Do:

Maintain your foot on the brake.

Maintain strong and consistent braking pressure while steering to allow four-wheel ABS to function correctly. Even if the brake pedal is pulsing, avoid pushing it. However, in light trucks equipped with rear-wheel anti-lock brakes, the front wheels can still lock up in the same way as normal brakes can.

If this occurs, the driver should gently release the brake pedal, allowing the front wheels to roll again so you can steer.

Allow sufficient room to stop.

When driving in excellent conditions, allow three seconds or more between cars. Allow for additional time if the conditions are dangerous.


Practice driving with ABS.

Accustom yourself to the pulsations that occur in the brake pedal when ABS is on. Empty parking lots or other open spaces are ideal for practising emergency stops.


Consider this: What does the vehicle's owner's book say?

Additional antilock braking system driving instructions may be found in the vehicle's owner's handbook.


Know the difference between four-wheel and rear-wheel ABS.

Four-wheel ABS is often seen in passenger vehicles and is meant to maintain steering control during emergency braking. Rear-wheel ABS, which is only present on light vehicles, is designed to maintain directional stability and avoid sideways skid.


Don't:


Drive an ABS-equipped car more aggressively than a non-ABS car.
Driving around bends aggressively, changing lanes suddenly, or doing other aggressive steering manoeuvres with any vehicle is not suitable nor safe.


Apply the brakes.

Pumping the brake pedal on four-wheel ABS equipped automobiles switches the system on and off. ABS automatically and at a much faster rate pumps the brakes for you, allowing for improved steering control.


Forget to steer.

Four-wheel ABS allows drivers to steer during emergency braking, although the system does not steer.


When applying the brake in an ABS-equipped vehicle, be wary of mechanical sounds and/or slight pedal pulsations.