Identification

• ABS systems work by monitoring the rate that the wheels are turning. When the system detects one wheel that is decelerating more quickly than the other wheels, or decelerating at a preset rate that indicates it is about to lock up, the ABS system reduces the brake pressure to that wheel.
  
  

Advantages

• When wheels lock up, they begin to slide. As the wheel slides it moves more quickly than a wheel that is being slowed while maintaining traction. ABS braking systems keep brakes from locking up by reducing pressure to wheels that are about to lock. On a car without ABS, a driver must manually apply the needed pressure to not lock up the wheels.
  
  

Using ABS Brakes

• When an emergency situation occurs, many drivers naturally stomp the brakes and lock up the wheels, but this will not occur with ABS brakes. Instead, a driver can simply depress the pedal and the ABS system will work to assure that the wheels do not lock.