No manufacturer to my knowledge states that their ABS system
produces shorter stopping distances than a conventional system in a
standard
vehicle operated by a competent driver.
Dan,
I have to speak up here partially in support of what you are saying.
I'm from the old school of drivers having been raised in MN and taught to
drive on most any road condition. The first time I used a vehicle with
ABS I thought something was wrong. Of course ,I was using a technique I
had learned with conventional brakes. Pump them and keep them on the
verge of locking up in order to stop in the shortest distance. Well ,
that was before I participated in training on the EVOC driving course run
by the San Bernadino Sheriff's Dept. after learning how to use them I
must say that NOTHING stops quicker or with more control in nearly any
situation. ABS is incredible IF you know how to use them.
You are absolutely correct. Look at it and you will hit it. For an
example of this just remember the last time you watched or drove a
motorcyle right into a chuck hole that the operator could clearly see yet
couldn't avoid simply because they kept looking at it.
One of the final tests we had to do was accelerate to about 60-80 mph
then react to a light that would flash on over one of three lane changes,
then negotiate a short gimkhana(?) course while standing on the brake
pedal. (No pumping)If I wasn't told to do it I never would have thought
it could be done. Time after time we watched full sized sedans with
conventional brakes skid to a stop with two wheels on dry pavement and
two wheels in water. Then marveled at how dramatically the distance was
reduced by similar vehicles with ABS. No comparison.
But again, I agree with you that this mechanical/electrical advantage
is only as good as the operator training and most folks don't have it.
Don't forget also that there are incompetent drivers in BOTH catagories
and they usually outnumber the competent ones.
Lastly, if any of you (CA residents) parents with driving teenagers
would like to have your young drivers taught some survival skills, the
San Bernadino Sheriff's EVOC driving school has a 1-day course consisting
of classroom and hands-on training for a very reasonable price. Great
birthday gift for the teenager and the oldsters. (In fact, it's geared
especially for these catagories.)
MY opinion, of course,
Steve
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produces shorter stopping distances than a conventional system in a
standard
vehicle operated by a competent driver.
Dan,
I have to speak up here partially in support of what you are saying.
I'm from the old school of drivers having been raised in MN and taught to
drive on most any road condition. The first time I used a vehicle with
ABS I thought something was wrong. Of course ,I was using a technique I
had learned with conventional brakes. Pump them and keep them on the
verge of locking up in order to stop in the shortest distance. Well ,
that was before I participated in training on the EVOC driving course run
by the San Bernadino Sheriff's Dept. after learning how to use them I
must say that NOTHING stops quicker or with more control in nearly any
situation. ABS is incredible IF you know how to use them.
You are absolutely correct. Look at it and you will hit it. For an
example of this just remember the last time you watched or drove a
motorcyle right into a chuck hole that the operator could clearly see yet
couldn't avoid simply because they kept looking at it.
One of the final tests we had to do was accelerate to about 60-80 mph
then react to a light that would flash on over one of three lane changes,
then negotiate a short gimkhana(?) course while standing on the brake
pedal. (No pumping)If I wasn't told to do it I never would have thought
it could be done. Time after time we watched full sized sedans with
conventional brakes skid to a stop with two wheels on dry pavement and
two wheels in water. Then marveled at how dramatically the distance was
reduced by similar vehicles with ABS. No comparison.
But again, I agree with you that this mechanical/electrical advantage
is only as good as the operator training and most folks don't have it.
Don't forget also that there are incompetent drivers in BOTH catagories
and they usually outnumber the competent ones.
Lastly, if any of you (CA residents) parents with driving teenagers
would like to have your young drivers taught some survival skills, the
San Bernadino Sheriff's EVOC driving school has a 1-day course consisting
of classroom and hands-on training for a very reasonable price. Great
birthday gift for the teenager and the oldsters. (In fact, it's geared
especially for these catagories.)
MY opinion, of course,
Steve
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
