STARTINGANDDRIVING
Anti-lockBrakeSystem(ABS)
ABScannotovercomethephysical
limitationsofstoppingthecarintooshort
adistance,corneringattoohighaspeed,or
thedangerofaquaplaning,i.e.wherealayer
ofwaterpreventsadequatecontactbetween
thetyresandtheroadsurface.
ThepurposeoftheABSistopreventthewheelsfrom
lockingwhilebraking,therebyenablingthedrivertoretain
steeringcontrolofthecar.
ThefactthatacaristtedwithABSmustnevertempt
thedriverintotakingrisksthatcouldaffecthis/hersafety
orthatofotherroadusers.Inallcases,itremains
thedriver'sresponsibilitytodrivewithinnormalsafety
margins,havingdueconsiderationforprevailingweather
andtrafcconditions.
Undernormalbrakingconditions,ABSwillnotbe
activated.However,oncethebrakingforceexceedsthe
availableadhesionbetweenthetyresandtheroadsurface,
therebycausingthewheelstolock,ABSwillautomatically
comeintooperation.Thiswillberecognisablebyarapid
pulsationfeltthroughthebrakepedal.
BrakinginanEmergency
DONOTpumpthebrakepedalatanytime;
thiswillinterrupttheoperationofABSand
mayincreasethebrakingdistance.
Ifanemergencysituationoccurs,thedrivershouldapply
fullbrakingeffortevenwhentheroadsurfaceisslippery.
ABSwillensurethatthewheelsdonotlockandthatthe
carisbroughttoahaltintheshortestpossibledistancefor
theprevailingroadsurfaceconditions.
Note:Onsoftsurfacessuchaspowderysnow,sand
orgravel,thebrakingdistanceproducedbytheABS
systemmaybegreaterthanthatforanon-ABSsystem,
evenimprovedsteeringwouldbeexperienced.Thisis
becausethenaturalactionoflockedwheelsonsoft
surfacesistobuildupawedgeofmaterialinfrontof
thetyrecontactpatch.Thiseffectassiststhecarto
stop.
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