"AMERICA BRAKES FOR SAFETY" CAMPAIGN URGES MOTORISTS TO "BRAKE AND STEER"
January 1996, Washington D.C. -- Record numbers of Americans drive cars equipped with anti-lock braking systems, and -- with the challenges of winter driving ranging from rain-slicked streets along the Gulf Coast to snowy highways in the Northeast -- it's more important than ever for drivers to understand how to maximize the advantage of ABS.
In response to this need, the ABS Education Alliance is launching the "America Brakes for Safety" campaign to help drivers better understand anti-lock braking systems and how to maintain control of their vehicles in emergency braking situations.
"Cars are made to steer: they shouldn't skid," said Rosemarie Kitchin of the ABS Education Alliance. "And that's what ABS does -- it lets the drivers steer their cars even in emergency situations under the worst of road conditions."
"Conventional braking systems require that drivers hit the brakes, remember to pump the brake pedal if the wheels start to lock, and steer into the skid if they start to slide. That's a lot to remember in a few seconds. But with ABS, it's simple: brake and steer. That's a big benefit in a panic situation."
Still, the ABS Education Alliance recognizes that anti-lock brakes can make a greater difference in enhancing safety on the road when even more drivers understand how ABS works and the way it should be used.
The idea behind anti-lock brakes is simple. It eliminates the need to pump the brakes because ABS pumps automatically at a rate of up to 18 times per second any time a sensor detects the start of wheel lock. Because the vehicle's wheels are kept from locking up on slippery roads, the driver can continue to steer.
There are two kinds of anti-lock brakes: four-wheel ABS, found on passenger cars and some newer light trucks, and rear-wheel (RWAL) ABS, found exclusively on light trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles. The difference lies in the way drivers operate the brakes. With four-wheel ABS-equipped cars, drivers must maintain firm pressure on the brake and steer.
RWAL-equipped vehicles are designed to maintain directional stability and prevent the back end from swinging out in emergency braking situations. RWAL systems modulate the braking pressure of the rear wheels only, which prevents wheel lock of the rear wheels and keeps the vehicle moving in a straight path. To maintain steering control with a rear-wheel anti-lock vehicle, the driver must control front-wheel braking to prevent front-wheel lock. The driver should apply the brake pedal with just enough force to stop the vehicle without locking the front wheels. The driver can then maintain steering control while rear-wheel ABS prevents the vehicle from skidding sideways.
Once drivers learn to "brake and steer," they're halfway there. It is just as important for drivers to understand that ABS technology has limitations and cannot replace safe driving practices.
"Drivers sometimes think the new technology allows them to ignore dangerous driving conditions," said Kitchin. "There's no substitute for safe driving, especially in bad weather. Anti-lock brakes cannot compensate for driving faster, more aggressively, or for maintaining unsafe following distances, nor can they guarantee recovery from a spin or skid."
Industry members welcome the Alliance's efforts to educate drivers. "There is no doubt anti-lock brakes can help save lives," said Phil Haseltine, president of the American Coalition for Traffic Safety. "But the driver is still responsible for safe and defensive driving."
Kitchin agrees. "The best drivers are those who stay alert, drive defensively, and anticipate what might happen next."
For information and a brochure on how to "brake and steer", the public can call 1-800-ABS-8958.
###
