ABS Education Alliance Newsroom

Steering Students Straight on ABS

By Rosemarie Kitchin, director of ABS Education Alliance
Summer 1997

After what may have seemed like ages of hand-me-down dirt bikes and banana seaters, remember when you were finally old enough to ride a 10-speed bicycle? The first lesson you learned was to brake with your hands, not your feet.

Even today, there are still lessons to be learned about brakes, whether you're riding a bike or driving an automobile. And it goes without saying that the larger and more powerful the vehicle, the more important it becomes for the driver to understand the braking system.

Modern automotive brake systems have changed braking "rules of the road" for good. As you know, with four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), drivers should not pump the brake pedal in emergency situations; instead, they must brake firmly and steer out of danger.

The ABS Education Alliance was created to speed along the ABS learning process and underscore the safety benefits of using ABS in emergency situations.

Right now, drivers seem to have few sources of information on ABS, including driver ed courses. In fact, a survey conducted by the ABS Education Alliance found that among relatively new drivers -- ages 18 to 24 -- 65 percent were not taught about ABS in driver education.

With this fact in mind, we need your help. We're asking you to join us in educating today's and tomorrow's driving students about the proper way to use ABS.

As an instructor and advocate of safe driving practices, you can ensure that future drivers will graduate from your class with an acute awareness and understanding of one of the most significant advances in automotive safety today.

The following advice highlights what students should learn in their driver ed courses. It can help to either enhance your current ABS lesson or serve as a foundation for developing one:

Remind students to keep in mind what vehicle they are driving. Since teen-agers may practice driving in different vehicles, they should understand how to check if the vehicle does or doesn't have ABS. To determine this, look for an illuminated ABS symbol on the dashboard immediately after starting the engine, or consult the owner's manual.
Teach students what to expect with ABS. Students should understand that pedal pulsations and mechanical noise are normal when engaging ABS. In the event of a real emergency situation, drivers unfamiliar with these sounds and sensations often remove their foot from the brake or pump the brake, disengaging the anti-lock brake system.
Instruct students on the true capabilities of ABS. Even though ABS prevents tire lock-up on paved surfaces and icy or snow-packed roads, stopping distances on loose gravel or freshly fallen snow can be longer than with conventional brakes.
Simulate as close to an emergency situation as possible when you bring your students out to the practice range for "hands-on" training. This training should take place preferably during wet or icy weather to show students how anti-lock brake systems react in different weather conditions. It will be helpful if you set up obstacles for the students to brake and steer around.
Dispel ABS myths. ABS was developed to help drivers brake in emergency situations and should not be thought of as a technology that allows them to drive faster or more aggressively.
Educate students on steering techniques with anti-lock brakes. With ABS, the driver is better able to steer the vehicle because the wheels keep from locking up. It is important to teach students smart behaviors such as checking their surroundings before steering to avoid an obstacle. Remind them that when steering with ABS, the vehicle will go exactly where the driver directs it.
Distinguish for your students the difference between four-wheel ABS found in passenger cars and the rear-wheel or two-wheel ABS found in some light trucks. It's important that you teach them about both kinds of ABS because even if your range fleet doesn't include light trucks, your students' garages at home may have vehicles equipped with rear-wheel ABS.
Practice, practice, practice. Hands-on training is the most critical element of educating drivers on ABS. Without this actual experience, students are only partway there. Set up practice exercises designed to help your students master a comprehensive ABS skill set -- exercises that focus on using emergency braking and steering skills in a number of scenarios.

By incorporating a comprehensive ABS curriculum and training program into your classroom and driving range activities, students will be able to properly apply ABS techniques when they really need them -- and that's good news for everyone.

Sources for ABS education
The ABS Education Alliance can be a valuable resource for you. It provides educational materials such as brochures, videos and a curriculum, developed in cooperation with ADTSEA, free or at cost.

A toll-free ABS information line can be reached at 1-800-ABS-8958. To receive any of these educational materials, contact the ABS Education Alliance at 919-549-4800. Be sure to check ADTSEA's Web page at www.iup.edu/highway for additional information on the curriculum.

Working together, we can drive home the ABS message to students.

Rosemarie Kitchin is director of the ABS Education Alliance, which is a coalition of four major anti-lock brake manufacturers in the United States: Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi Automotive Systems, Continental Teves and LucasVarity Automotive. It was formed in 1995 to educate the public on the safety benefits and proper use of anti-lock brake systems.

Kitchin, who also serves as director of communications for the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), has been an executive and lecturer in the automotive industry for 21 years.