Will the installation of an anti-lock braking system significantly reduce braking distance?
3 Answers
Installing an anti-lock braking system (ABS) can reduce braking distance. During vehicle braking, the system automatically controls the braking force to prevent wheel lock-up, maintaining a state of rolling and sliding (with a slip ratio around 20%), ensuring maximum adhesion between the wheels and the road surface. However, ABS systems have their limitations. In two scenarios, ABS may not provide the shortest braking distance: one is on smooth, dry roads when braking is performed by an experienced driver, and the other is on loose gravel, soft soil, or deep snow-covered surfaces. The anti-lock braking system enhances safety during emergency braking. Without ABS, emergency braking can easily lead to wheel lock-up, rendering the steering wheel unresponsive, thereby increasing the risk of severe consequences. Single-channel ABS typically controls both rear wheels based on the low-select principle. This type of ABS may not fully utilize the adhesion of both rear wheels, so the braking distance might not be noticeably reduced. Additionally, since the front wheels' braking is not controlled, they may still lock up during braking, leaving steering capability unimproved. However, single-channel ABS significantly enhances directional stability during braking by preventing lock-up of the rear wheels.
Once on a rainy day, I almost rear-ended another car while driving. Fortunately, my vehicle was equipped with an ABS system, so even when I slammed on the brakes hard, the car didn't skid. In fact, the main advantage of ABS is preventing wheel lock-up and loss of control on slippery surfaces. On icy or gravel roads, it can reduce braking distance by about 20-30%. However, if you brake hard on dry, smooth asphalt roads, because ABS allows intermittent wheel rotation, it might actually take slightly longer to stop compared to old-fashioned brakes. But the safety improvement is absolutely worth it - without ABS, if the tires lock up, you can't steer, which is even more dangerous. Nowadays, ABS has basically become standard equipment on all vehicles.
Over the years working in the garage, I've seen too many cases where people think ABS is purely for shortening braking distance—that's a very one-sided view. Essentially, it prevents wheel lock-up by applying pulsed braking multiple times per second, especially on snowy or wet roads, maintaining the vehicle's steering capability. In these conditions, the braking performance is indeed much better than conventional braking, but it has little to no advantage on dry surfaces and may even slightly increase stopping distance. The key is to press the pedal firmly and hold it down when using ABS; relying on it to dodge accidents while speeding is unrealistic—every system has its limits.
