ABS - A Life Saver

First of all, I want to apologize for a mistake I made yesterday - the third part of Chelsea's driving test will be here tomorrow, and not today.

And for today - the ABS system. ABS is an acronym for Anti-lock Braking System. It's purpose it to prevent the wheels from locking when the brake pedal is used. It may not seem that important, but it is a true life saver.

When the ABS system (a redundant term, since the S is for system. However, it sounds much better than ABS alone) detects that the wheels are locked, it releases them automatically to allow the driving some steering. Without that, the car could be as good as running into a wall.

During its work, the system may cause the brake pedal to shake. Drivers who are not familiar with this feeling may leave the brake suddenly in fear that something is wrong. However, it's important to keep braking as long as necessary. Those "shakes" are a part of the ABS system.

Two days ago I felt the effects of the ABS system. Believe me, this is not a good feeling, especially because of the maneuver that led to the system's activation. The feeling at the foot was strange, but I immediately understood what's happening and finished my turn.

To avoid the need for ABS, keep this simple rule in mind: slow down BEFORE turns, not DURING them. Braking during turns may lead to skidding and loss of control. High speed turns are not recommended, but sometimes they are better than braking during a turn (especially on high speeds).

Please - make turns at a safe speed. Don't get to the point of using the ABS.

Yours,
Nadav

nadavs