Mandatory for 12 years, many people don’t know how ABS works

More than ten years ago the ABS brake became mandatory, but from the questions and inquiries I receive, I realized that the government only made it mandatory without any clarification campaign, since few know exactly how and why it works.

SEE ALSO:

• ABS light requires attention and verification in the workshop
• ABS brake: how the anti-lock system works
• If the electronic stability control (ESC) light came on on the dashboard, pay attention!

Some drivers even complain that there is something wrong with my ABS. They question: “the other day I entered a curve on the road and the car skidd sideways, I ended up on the side of the road, I almost crashed. That’s a sign that the ABS isn’t working, isn’t it?”

No, it’s actually nothing like that. This technology serves to prevent the car from skidding when the driver presses the brake pedal too hard in an emergency. It prevents the wheels from slipping and increases the braking space. What prevents the car from skidding sideways is another safety device, known as electronic stability control or ESC.