You will know when ABS is activated if you hear a mechanical sound and feel some pulsation or increased resistance in the brake pedal. The mechanical noise or pulsations of anti-lock brakes might catch drivers by surprise, but these sensations tell you the brakes are working.
It is important to keep your foot on the brake pedal when you hear noise or feel vibrations. Avoid pumping the brake, even if the pedal is pulsating, because pumping turns the ABS on and off.
It is a good idea to practise driving with ABS to get accustomed to pulsations that occur in the brake pedal when it is activated. Empty parking lots or other open areas are excellent places to practise emergency stops.
Most drivers were taught to pump the brakes and turn hard to the right or left in order to compensate for skidding. But with anti-lock brakes, all you have to do is “brake and steer”. Step hard on the brake pedal while steering in the direction you want to go in and keep your foot firmly on the pedal until the car comes to a complete stop.
Steering is not always an instinctive reaction in an emergency stopping situation, and you may have to “retrain” yourself in this instance.
ABS cannot compensate for driving faster, more aggressively or maintaining unsafe following distances, nor can it guarantee recovery from a spin or skid prior to braking. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and maintain a speed appropriate to road conditions. |
CARS
