Antilock braking systems: do they reduce accidents?

Antilock braking systems (ABS) are fitted increasingly to new cars. Their main effect is to improve lane-keeping while braking on bends, and the ability to steer and avoid obstacles under heavy braking. They can also reduce stopping distances, though not in all circumstances. Clearly, such systems have a potential safety benefit – see, for example, a number of articles cited by Smith, Grayson and Baughan (1999). However, they present the driver with new task demands and new expectations. Whether the safety benefit is realised in practice may depend on how drivers deal with these changes. This, in turn, is likely to depend on drivers’ knowledge, training and experience. (Author/publisher) For the covering abstract see ITRD E116881.