Do you know how to use ABS braking correctly?
For an example, in an emergency situation?
Could you achieve a safe outcome using ABS?
I have said it many times that anti-lock brakes (ABS) are one of the greatest safety aids in automotive safety history, but how does a driver get the best from this dynamic braking wizardry, particularly in the case of a real emergency?
As an enthusiast reading this blog, you’ll probably have a good appreciation for what ABS and other ‘Advanced Driver Assistance Systems’ (ADAS) do, but many drivers have little or no idea of the presence of these systems on their vehicles, nor what they do.
Fundamentals
The fundamental job of ABS is to prevent the road wheels from ‘locking up’ under extreme braking – thus ensuring drivers retain full directional (steering) control, so they can steer to safety, if necessary, whilst maximising the braking effort. As a secondary benefit, stopping distances can sometimes be reduced by the ABS system - depending on the road surface - with tyre friction being maximised in contrast to skidding.
The advantage of being able to steer under intense braking will be lost on many drivers in the moment of panic, but it could be the difference between life and death.
A word of warning though, ABS is not something to rely on to get you out of trouble because you’re tailgating or driving into hazards too quickly. Consider behavioural changes before relying on safety systems to bail you out!
Getting it Wrong
Where drivers often go mess up when using ABS in an emergency, is by not hitting the brake pedal hard enough.
Those that do apply enough pressure sometimes feel the vibration and throbbing of the system and reduce the pressure thinking something is wrong, just when it’s operating at its best.
Developing familiarity with the feel of ABS is important (in a controlled environment) to ensure you develop the confidence and instinct to use it properly should the need arise.
The second element often neglected is the ability to ‘think and act’ in those split seconds. As mentioned above, ABS gives you the ability to steer – all too often drivers will ‘Panic Freeze’ and smash into the hazard rather than looking for a safe space to steer into.
With confidence gained through practice, a driver should be able to think and act clearly, exerting maximum pressure on the brakes and then steering to safety.
The 70mph Lane Change Exercise
When coaching, I teach a high-speed ABS lane change manoeuvre, by creating a scenario where the driver would consider themselves driving in the outside lane of a motorway at 70mph and – for whatever reason, lack of concentration or unseen hazard – they need to change lanes at high speed.
To simulate this, we drive along a proving ground at 70mph and then hit the brakes as hard as possible and change lanes from the outside lane to the hard shoulder, where they can be confident of not encountering further traffic or hazards.
It is difficult and unfamiliar at first, but a few practice runs later, they are fully in control in such emergencies and know how they can be avoided.
I get them to shout out loud ‘BRAKE and STEER!’ It might sound comical, but this triggers the correct thought and action processes and helps them apply the correct action to the brakes and to the steering and embeds the process in their psyche.
It’s an impressive sight to watch this being deployed by experts and it doesn’t take much practice for novice drivers to execute it well too. It’s a life-saving skill that should stay with them for their rest of their driving days.
The Caveat
Whilst ABS is a wonderful invention, it’s not foolproof. If you were to rely on ABS in icy conditions or when driving on loose surfaces, you’d soon find the limitations. If they tyres can’t actually grip the road surface then no electronic wizardry will help.
Your key safety measure is of course, prevention – choosing appropriate speeds to approach hazards, considering all factors.
In Summary
So, what’s the best way to maximise ABS brakes in a real-life emergency? Here’s how to use ABS like a pro-driver:
-Hit the brakes very hard – do NOT reduce the pressure on the brake pedal until you need to.
-Don’t ‘Panic Freeze’ in an emergency, just keep looking, planning and thinking.
-Look ahead where you need to go and steer there (beware target fixation and steering into the very thing you’re trying to avoid!).
-Shout “Brake and Steer” if that helps your thought processes.
-The best way to handle it? Pay attention and avoid the need for any panic braking whatsoever!
Paul Ripley
September 2024
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