I know ABS is a safety feature but how many drivers regularly activate it? In my driving life I have only been in the position me activating it around five times in 20 years. I rarely have to apply my brakes in anger but to know that ABS could get me out of trouble in an emergency is reassuring. When I was learning to drive a Police traffic cop told me to read the road and anticipate what could happen. His advice stuck. No I was not pulled up but he was a neighbour. As a matter of interest he said that they had no chance against a Lotus Elan or Mini Cooper S around London Streets.

I’ve only made my ABS kick in when braking at speed over uneven ground. 
 

Only ever time I’ve felt it was when there was a break in the ABS ring, which only kicked in when applying the brakes at <5mph

 

 

Edited 22 May, 20215 yr by jars

I don't understand the reference to Lotus/Mini?

Nowadays  it only ever cuts in for an emergency response to an idiot coming the other way tailgating the vehicle in front and pulling out to overtake without being able to see the oncoming traffic, or someone ignorant of priorité a droite which has not happened for a year, - Covid restrictions preventing UK visitors.

 

When I was young and the road was my personal racetrack my company car was a Sierra XR4x4 (88-90) it was a 20 minute cross country drive to work and the ABS would cut in at least 4 times every journey

 

One place where it really bugged me was downhill late braking for a bend where a front wheel would hit a bump and trigger the ABS which decreased the retardation and made the entry speed too quick.

 

I deglaze my brake pads every couple of months and thats the only time aside from the idiots that I trigger the ABS.

On 22/05/2021 at 12:05, Wino said:

I don't understand the reference to Lotus/Mini?

Just a point of interest if you were planning a bank job!!

Still don't get it, sorry. 

Was it anything to do with ABS? Or just that police cars of the time wouldn't be able to catch said cars?

Activated it on my wife's car several times, as has she. Not managed it on my own car, though.

I've often found teh advice from Police drivers (and riders) is to never try to anticipate what other drivers will do, because they'll always do the one thing you didn't anticipate... but rather, leave them enough room to make whatever mistakes they're going to make, and yourself enough room to escape from them!

Have set it off on mine a few times, usually by deliberately braking hard and running one side on and off a low(er) friction surface.