What are ABS?

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Anti-lock brakes prevent skidding and provide control in emergency situations. They are a standard safety feature in most new cars and can result in insurance discounts. The electronic control unit monitors wheel rotation and adjusts braking pressure. Studies conflict on their effectiveness.

Antilock brakes are vehicle brakes used as part of a comprehensive braking system that are intended to help stop cars, trucks, and other types of automobiles in emergency situations. The brakes work by preventing the braking system from, in most cases, completely locking up the tires. Its purpose is to prevent a car from skidding, which not only negatively affects directional control but also stalls control.

The vast majority of new cars now have anti-lock brakes installed as a standard vehicle safety feature. The fact that they are considered much safer than traditional brakes also means that cars that have them generally receive a discount on auto insurance rates. However, the most important reason to have these brakes is for the control they provide in emergency situations.

When an unexpected situation arises, drivers often go into panic mode. In this situation, the first instinct is to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible, in most cases. To do that, they often push the brakes as hard as possible in an instinctive reaction. In the past, with traditional braking systems, this caused the brakes to lock up. Anti-lock brakes make sure that doesn’t happen, or at least doesn’t happen as often.

This type of brake operates under a very complex system, and some would say that once the system is actively in control of the situation, it is out of the driver’s hands. The electronic control unit monitors the rotation of the wheels and when a difference in the rotational speeds of the wheels is detected through the use of sensors, it will act to decrease the braking pressure on those slower rotating wheels, thus naturally accelerating your speed. rotation.

The idea behind anti-lock brakes is similar to the idea of ​​”pumping” the brakes in traditional brake systems. Pumping the brakes helps keep the rotational speed of each wheel in sync. However, with this type of brake system, you shouldn’t pump, simply because you’re working against what the brakes are already trying to do.

Despite the fact that anti-lock brakes are widely used and considered a must-have safety feature on many vehicles, there are conflicting studies on their actual effectiveness. An Australian study suggests that they do help significantly reduce multi-vehicle crashes. However, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that they do not reduce the risk of a fatal crash.




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