4 ms·

We've actually moved quite a bit away from "100%" direct control. Anti-lock brakes were the first such system. Before, you had to pump the brakes in an emergen

We've actually moved quite a bit away from "100%" direct control. Anti-lock brakes were the first such system. Before, you had to pump the brakes in an emergency, a practice that was difficult to execute even without the shock of an impeding accident. That system alone certainly saves thousands of lives every year.

paulie_a 9y ago
The average driver will probably never actually experience abs. It's a good failsafe that is rarely employed...if it is, you definitely realize it
- crysin 9y ago
  Unless you live in the US in the Midwest or New England area, then the likelihood of you never having experienced ABS kicking in is likely to be 0%. Braking on ice is not the most fun experience.
  - paulie_a 9y ago
    I live in the Midwest. I have yet to experience abs. Between the three vehicles I've owned and the 400-500k combined miles.
- astura 9y ago
  I have ABS kick on around once-twice a season. I mean, sure, if you live somewhere it doesn't snow you won't even experience ABS, but if you live in a climate where it snows you definitely will. That being said, it's always been while stopping for a light, not in a case when I had to swerve, so its never prevented a crash for me, but it really is comforting to have it.
  - fpoling 9y ago
    Around Houston I was surprised to see many warning about ice on the roads. Aparently even in Texas on a cold night a road especially on bridges can freeze resulting in black ice.
- oldgradstudent 9y ago
  It's important to practice once in a while. Find a clear road where you're not putting anyone else at risk and get used to the feeling, so you'll not release the brakes in an emergency.
hyperbovine 9y ago
Ahem. That is purely semantics -- ABS makes the car perform more like what you are conditioned to expect (under normal driving conditions). That's the whole success of ABS; it saves lives precisely because it conveys the illusion of you still being 100% under direct control when in fact you would be careening out of control otherwise.
- wcunning 9y ago
  One of the things I've heard mentioned by professional driving instructors, without a good citation, is that many more accidents could be avoided if people trusted ABS more. Specifically, when you're braking hard/panic braking and the ABS kicks it, the shock of the rapid firing against your foot causes you to back off pressure on the brake pedal. I was specifically instructed to stand on it anyway to see what the car behaved like when truly panic stopping and maintaining pressure, but I definitely had an instinctive reaction to let off of the brake when the ABS kicked in. If you're ever in that situation, press harder, don't let up!
  - hyperbovine 9y ago
    Yes, my driving instructor (aka my father, employing the paternal prerogative of never citing anything ever) used to say the same thing.
  - pedrocr 9y ago
    That's why cars have Brake Assist (BA) now that will break more than you're actually requesting with the pedal if you break suddenly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_brake_assist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_brake_assist

paulie_a 9y ago

The average driver will probably never actually experience abs. It's a good failsafe that is rarely employed...if it is, you definitely realize it

crysin 9y ago
Unless you live in the US in the Midwest or New England area, then the likelihood of you never having experienced ABS kicking in is likely to be 0%. Braking on ice is not the most fun experience.
- paulie_a 9y ago
  I live in the Midwest. I have yet to experience abs. Between the three vehicles I've owned and the 400-500k combined miles.
astura 9y ago
I have ABS kick on around once-twice a season. I mean, sure, if you live somewhere it doesn't snow you won't even experience ABS, but if you live in a climate where it snows you definitely will. That being said, it's always been while stopping for a light, not in a case when I had to swerve, so its never prevented a crash for me, but it really is comforting to have it.
- fpoling 9y ago
  Around Houston I was surprised to see many warning about ice on the roads. Aparently even in Texas on a cold night a road especially on bridges can freeze resulting in black ice.
oldgradstudent 9y ago
It's important to practice once in a while. Find a clear road where you're not putting anyone else at risk and get used to the feeling, so you'll not release the brakes in an emergency.

hyperbovine 9y ago

Ahem. That is purely semantics -- ABS makes the car perform more like what you are conditioned to expect (under normal driving conditions). That's the whole success of ABS; it saves lives precisely because it conveys the illusion of you still being 100% under direct control when in fact you would be careening out of control otherwise.

wcunning 9y ago
One of the things I've heard mentioned by professional driving instructors, without a good citation, is that many more accidents could be avoided if people trusted ABS more. Specifically, when you're braking hard/panic braking and the ABS kicks it, the shock of the rapid firing against your foot causes you to back off pressure on the brake pedal. I was specifically instructed to stand on it anyway to see what the car behaved like when truly panic stopping and maintaining pressure, but I definitely had an instinctive reaction to let off of the brake when the ABS kicked in. If you're ever in that situation, press harder, don't let up!
- hyperbovine 9y ago
  Yes, my driving instructor (aka my father, employing the paternal prerogative of never citing anything ever) used to say the same thing.
- pedrocr 9y ago
  That's why cars have Brake Assist (BA) now that will break more than you're actually requesting with the pedal if you break suddenly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_brake_assist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_brake_assist