The ABS Stopping Advantage

A brake system needs tire traction to function. When wheel lock-up (tire skids, rather than rolls) occurs during braking, the amount of traction force between the tire and road surface decreases dramatically. Since traction force is necessary to slow or steer a vehicle, wheel lock-up during braking is extremely undesirable. Antilock brakes prevent wheel lock-up from occurring, providing shorter stopping distances on some surfaces, with greater steering control during braking than a non-antilock brake equipped vehicle. Stopping distance is dependent on many variables including but not limited to brake conditions, tire conditions, road surface conditions, and steering input.