Learn to Use Your
Anti-lock Brakes !
Anti-lock braking systems are designed to let you keep steering while stopping fast. They also generally stop shorter than non-ABS vehicles on slick surfaces. Here’s how to use anti-lock braking systems, experts say:
Stomp. Slam that brake pedal. Don’t pump it. Push hard and
hold the pedal down. You’ll feel the pedal pulsate, and you’ll hear noise. Those
are signals the system is working — and that you’re in a real emergency.
The sound and feel often startle people, and their instinct is to let up on the brakes
slightly. Don’t - That ruins the advantages of ABS.
Steer. Don’t freeze at the wheel. Use the nonskid
feature of ABS to steer around the obstacle that made you slam the brakes in the first
place. And — experts say this is where people can die if they err — continue
steering to a safe place once you’re past the obstacle.
People sometimes get hurt, or killed, when they jerk the wheel to avoid the problem and
run into another object, nstead of continuing to steer to safety, studies suggest.
Practice Find a big. empty space a church parking lot, for instance
that’s icy, snowy or wet and doesn’t have curbs or lots of light poles.
Get going about 20 miles an hour and slam the brakes. Steer to prove to yourself you still
can. Keep doing it until it becaomes habit to steer when you stomp.
You can set up a cardboard box as a target. Aim for It, nail the brakes. Steer around hard
keep steering back ha what would be the normal traffic lane.
When the police show up to find out what you’re doing. explain the safety-oriented
nature of your endeavor. ABS suppliers and automakers can't imagine an officer arresting
anyone for practicing .
By James R. Healey, published in USAToday
To return to the TheServiceAdvisor.com
I would enjoy any feedback or questions you have
about what you have read or heard.
Thank you for visiting . . .
