Emergency Halts: Staying Safe with ABS and Your Brakes
First rate motorists are always watchful of the roadway before them, allowing their abilities to be ready for any probably danger in the way of their progress, and reacting before heavy braking is needed. Still, even the best drivers can hit the unexpected, so understanding how to maintain control of your vehicle when you brake helps you stop carefully and stay in control.
When trying to brake with care one needs to make sure they are braking in a straight line. Corners can make the weight of the vehicle transfer to the front of the car, lightening the rear of the vehicle, which makes stopping more difficult. The brakes have more demand on them with this situation. It is possible to skid, spin, or not stop properly if you have to brake and are going around a corner.
In a situation where you are cornering and must brake, you should apply the brakes gently and add pressure a little at a time. This helps to reduce the weight transfer from being too impactful. You will also be able to maintain control on the vehicle.
All or most cars manufactured today have ABS or anti lock braking system. This system is designed to help keep control and stability in your hands when you have to brake heavily, even on curves. There are limitations with the ABS system.
When you a brake heavily the ABS system can detect the point at which the wheels are starting to lock up, it then automatically releases the brakes for a fraction of second to prevent this happening. This process is repeated hundreds of times a second and occurs considerably quicker than the speed at which a normal driver could achieve.
ABS establishes a situation in which the wheels will continue to revolve, without locking up, when heavy braking is needed. It allows steering to remain in your control, the tyres to grip the road, and you to avoid any danger.
A driver can feel when the ABS kicks in because there is a gentle pulsing in the brake pedal or a grinding sound. When you hear these sounds or feel the pedal pulse you should not remove your foot from the brake. Instead continue with your braking, allowing the vehicle to stop in a short distance while using the ABS.
ABS is a most effective system for heavy or emergency braking. It makes sure you can brake in a safe and controlled manner. You must realise that it cannot defy physics, which means driving to quickly on wet roads can lead to accidents even with ABS.
Ethan Melandri on July 2nd 2009 in automobile