Most, if not all, University cars and station wagons are now fitted with ABS brakes. ABS means anti-lock braking system. "What does this have to do with me?", you may ask. Well quite a lot really. ABS brakes could help you to avoid an accident, thus, preventing you from being injured or even saving your life. Unfortunately, safety experts have found that many drivers don't benefit from ABS brakes because the correct techniques for using them are almost the opposite of everything that most of us have been taught about emergency braking in cars. Over the next few weeks we will run a series of hints about using ABS brakes. Please read them carefully. You never know when you might benefit from them.

ABS FACT NUMBER ONE: No matter how hard you brake, ABS prevents the wheels from locking. This means that you can't skid when you brake in an ABS car. This happens because a computer in the car senses the moment when a wheel is about to skid and momentarily releases the brake pressure to that wheel. It then reapplies brake pressure until the wheel is about to skid again when it again releases it. The ABS system is capable of doing this up to 15 times per second, which is much faster than any driver can perform the same task. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER TWO: To get maximum effectiveness from ABS brakes in an emergency, you must continue to brake as hard as you possibly can. Keep your foot hard on the pedal. This is the opposite of the technique which you use in ordinary cars. Remember the ABS system will prevent the wheels from skidding. So KEEP YOUR FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL for as long as you need to do so in order to avoid the obstacle. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER THREE: When you apply the brakes hard in an ABS equipped car, two things will happen. One is that the brake pedal will pulse up and down. The amount of pulsing will vary between cars. The other is that the brakes will make a lot of noise. Don't worry about these things. They indicate that the system is working properly. Just KEEP YOUR FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL for as long as you need to do so in order to avoid the obstacle. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER FOUR: No matter how hard you brake, in an ABS equipped car you can still steer. Why? Because the wheels don't skid, but continue to rotate. This means that you can brake hard to avoid an obstacle and steer around it at the same time. This really adds to your chances of avoiding injury or death. Remember, just STEER NORMALLY, even when braking hard in cars with ABS brakes. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER FIVE: Don't rely on ABS to allow you to drive closer to the car in front or to drive faster. You should continue to maintain a sensible distance between you and the car in front. You should also always drive at a speed which is sensible for the conditions. Always assume that ABS equipped cars will take the same distance to stop as cars which are not equipped with ABS. The big advantage is that the car remains under control. It won't skid and you can still steer it. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER SIX: You may have heard that cars with ABS brakes travel further before stopping on gravel roads than cars without ABS. This does happen with some cars. However, ABS brakes are still an advantage on gravel roads because they prevent the car from skidding and still allow you to steer around the obstacle. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)

ABS FACT NUMBER SEVEN: How do I know if a car has ABS brakes? Usually you will find a little sign on the dashboard which says something like ABS. Look for it whenever you pick up a University car so that you know that you are driving a vehicle with this life saving technology. All University cars now have a folder which includes details of the car’s safety and other systems. TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT BEFORE YOU DRIVE AWAY. (Remember, this and the other hints are about emergency braking only. For ordinary braking, ABS brakes operate like ordinary car brakes.)