ABS EDUCATION ALLIANCE WANTS TO STEER DRIVERS STRAIGHT ABOUT EMERGENCY BRAKING
A response to ABC News
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) technology is widely recognized by government and industry leaders as one of the most significant safety advances in modern automotive engineering. As such, the ABS Education Alliance would like to underscore the importance of the message about steering control with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as highlighted in a recent ABC “World News Tonight” segment.
The ability to maintain vehicle control is the most important safety benefit of ABS, and studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1994 and 1995 support this assertion by concluding that ABS is effective in reducing crashes.
“Do the anti-lock brake systems work? Yes they do. Would I like to have one in my car? Yes I would. But do I need to be told how to use it properly and should I practice it? Absolutely,” said NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez in his interview on ABC.
Drivers know the value of ABS. In a nationwide poll, consumers ranked ABS the No. 2 safety feature -- following seat belts -- they look for when buying a car. But knowing the value of the ABS doesn't mean all drivers know how to use ABS to its maximum benefit.
It is critical that consumers seek out information to properly operate the vehicles they purchase and that the automotive, safety and education industries support those efforts.
The ABS Education Alliance exists for one reason -- to help to educate the driving public on the proper way to use ABS. Only when drivers understand how the technology responds in emergency braking situations will they be able to fully benefit from the safety advantages of the technology.
The Alliance has provided the following tips for driving with ABS:
- Always brake and steer when using anti-lock brakes
-- With ABS, you “brake and steer.” Push the brake pedal while
steering around hazards and keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal until the
car comes to a complete stop. Do not take your foot off the pedal or pump the
brakes because that will disengage the anti-lock system.
- Remember you can steer to avoid hazards while
braking with ABS -- Steer clear of hazards, while keeping your foot firmly on
the brake pedal. Be aware that your vehicle will not turn as quickly on a
slippery road as it would on dry pavement.
- Expect noise and vibration in the brake pedal when
your ABS is in use -- These sensations tell you ABS is working.
- Practice using your ABS -- Practice in a
non-emergency situation, such as an open parking lot, so you are familiar with
ABS before an emergency condition presents itself.
- Drive safely, because your ABS is only as good as the driver using it -- Anti-lock brakes cannot compensate for driving faster or more aggressively, or maintaining unsafe following distances. They cannot guarantee recovery from a spin or skid prior to an emergency braking situation. Avoid extreme steering maneuvers while your anti-lock brake system is engaged.
The ABS Education Alliance is a coalition of four companies that represent anti-lock brake manufacturers in the United States: Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi Automotive Systems, and Continental Teves. For a brochure on how to “brake and steer,” call 1-800-ABS-8958.
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