What Does ABS Mean in Cars? Explaining Anti-Lock Brakes and Their Importance
Anti-lock brakes, or ABS, is a safety system that was first installed on UK vehicles in 1980 and which became mandatory on cars manufactured from 2004 onwards. It is designed to prevent wheels from locking and skidding under hard braking, as this increases the risk of having an accident.
What you should know about ABS.
ABS is a safety feature that is present on all modern cars, but it is not a replacement for safe driving. It is essential that you remain alert every time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, keep a safe braking distance between you and the car in front and drive in accordance with the road and weather conditions.
ABS functions most effectively when the vehicle is well maintained. As the vehicle's tyres are its only point of contact with the road, they must be kept at the correct tyre pressure, and the tread depth must exceed 1.6 mm. The tyres should be free from bulges, cuts and cracks and you should not feel any vibrations through your steering or hear any rumbling noises emanating from your tyres.
If you are in any doubt as to the safety of your tyres, you can book a free tyre inspection at your local Protyre garage at your earliest convenience and replace any defective tyres to remain safe and legal.
What are anti lock brakes benefits?
As well as improving vehicle stability when braking, ABS can also help vehicles to corner more safely. The sensors on the wheels can detect when a vehicle is losing grip on a corner and apply and remove pressure on the brakes automatically in a rapid and repetitive manner to help maintain control, often without the driver even being aware of it.
ABS can help vehicles stop more smoothly when they are towing as well, which can prevent trailers from jack-knifing and causing an accident. A correctly controlled trailer is always safer, and it is important to check the tyres on your trailer before each journey to make sure that they are safe and suitable for the weights and speeds they will be required to handle. Our Protyre experts can perform a free tyre safety check for both your car and trailer and teach you how to identify the correct tread depth, tyre pressure and any defects so that you can tow with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
An anti-lock braking system uses sensors to monitor how quickly the car is travelling and how fast its wheels are spinning. It detects the point at which the wheels begin to lock up and applies varying pressure to each wheel to resist wheel lock-up and to safely stop the car.
Anti-lock brakes use hydraulic pressure to prevent the wheels on a car from locking up under braking, either due to a sharp application of the brakes or when attempting to slow or stop on slippery, wet or rough surfaces.
The ABS system interprets the driver's braking signals to deliver optimal control when slowing and stopping a vehicle, making braking safer and more consistent. It does this by applying strong pressure to the brakes when the car is slowing and then reducing the pressure as the vehicle comes to a stop.
Since 2004, all vehicles have been manufactured with ABS as standard, as it was shown to deliver a marked improvement in safety. Commercial vehicles, as well as passenger cars, are fitted with ABS and benefit from the safety enhancements offered by the technology.
If your anti lock brakes are faulty, a light should appear on your vehicle's dashboard. It usually features the letters ABS encased in a circle with a further two half circles to either side. This light usually illuminates as you switch on the engine, but should go off quite quickly. If it stays on or flashes, you should book an appointment with your local Protyre garage so that they can run diagnostic testing. By doing so, any defects with your ABS system can be identified and rectified, keeping you safe on the road.
To find out more about ABS, speak to the experts at your local Protyre garage today. With a network of over 180 garages spanning the length and breadth of the UK, there is sure to be a Protyre near you.
