Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) are a promising development for reducing motor vehicle crashes. Since 1985, they have been voluntarily installed by manufacturers on millions of cars and light trucks. They have been welcomed by consumers and are well on their way to becoming standard equipment in most new cars and light trucks. The Highway Safety Act of 1991 instructs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to consider extending this protection to all passenger vehicles, including trucks lighter than 10,000 pounds. This preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of rear-wheel ABS for light trucks (including pickup trucks, sport-utility vehicles and vans), based on statistical analyses of the accident experience of production vehicles equipped with ABS, is performed in support of NHTSA's regulatory program. (Author/publisher)
Abstract