When you need to stop in a hurry, ABS brakes are one of the automotive industry's best innovations. ABS, also known as an anti-lock braking system, helps your vehicle avoid skidding when you apply the brakes. By avoiding the lock of your wheels, and allowing your wheels to maintain interactive traction with the road, ABS brakes are known to improve control while stopping. Most new model car rentals will feature ABS brakes. So how can you tell if your vehicle has ABS brakes, and how do you use them?
How Will I Know if My Rental Car Has ABS?
The quickest way to know if your rental car vehicle has ABS brakes is to ask your independent rental car consultant. If he or she isn't sure, simply check the vehicle's owner's manual. After you discover whether or not your car rental is equipped with ABS brakes, it's then important to know how anti-lock brakes operate. As well, if you're renting an SUV or van, you should ask whether your vehicle has two-wheel or four-wheel ABS, as this will impact how your vehicle handles during a sudden stop.
When Do ABS Brakes Kick In?
During normal braking, you'll never know the difference between anti-lock brakes and traditional brakes. ABS brakes only come into play when you are experiencing hard braking, which occurs during an emergency or panic stop. When your anti-lock brakes activate, you will almost instantly feel a vibration in the pedal as your brakes rapidly pulsate to help control your vehicle and bring you to a safe stop. You're also likely to hear a buzzing sound. When this happens, keep the brake applied — your ABS brakes are functioning properly. If you have never used ABS brakes before, this can be an unusual occurrence and may startle you. Be prepared and know this is normal.
ABS on Wet or Snow-Covered Roads
One myth about ABS brakes is that they will significantly decrease your stopping distance. On dry, solid roads, ABS brakes may slightly decrease the stopping distance, but it is not significant. On wet, gravel, or snow-covered roads, anti-lock brakes do actually increase your stopping distance once activated; however, the greatest advantage is still the ability to steer your vehicle away from a hazard. The best way to safely stop is to drive defensively: slow down in poor driving conditions, leave additional space between your car rental and the vehicle in front of you, and keep your eyes on the road. If you are unfamiliar with anti-lock brakes, ask your rental car specialist for information about this important safety feature before leaving.
While ABS brakes don't allow you to stop quicker in most instances, the improved handling and navigation is undeniable. Without ABS brakes, cars in a rapid stop often skid. Once your ABS brakes have activated, you will still be able to turn your vehicle — but do so gradually. Avoid jerking your steering wheel or making sudden alterations.
Familiarize yourself with your vehicle's safety features before hitting the road. Compare rental options from trusted independent agencies.
Every car should have ABS
Every car should have ABS system. ABS System is known as anti-lock braking system. When we apply a sudden brake while driving it may happen that our car might skid through the surface resulting in an accident. So the ABS System helps our vehicle to avoid skidding while applying brakes. It also improves our control over the car. In order to know that the car has has system or not we need to check the car manual.
BMW service beverly hills
Thats really a very good
Thats really a very good news. I agree that ABS brakes are one of the automotive industries best innovations so far. The most dangerous part of applying sudden brakes in case of urgency is skidding. ABS brakes prevents this leading to the safety of people inside car as well as nearby outside. As it is also possible to apply brakes in a snow packed road, it adds to the advantages of ABS brakes. I think we all should go for them in our cars as it is associated with our safety.