Miata Mailing List: December 1996, Message #46
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   From: (none)

Subject: Effectiveness of ABS?

   Date: (none)



The Underground Miata Network had a driving school this summer, and one of

the most popular sections was the threshold braking training.  We had both

ABS and non-ABS cars there.  The training was in a straight line - just go

go go, and stop when the instructor tells you to.  Pavement was smooth and

dry.  There was a little stuffed animal at the end of the braking zone to

provide incentive :)



The result?  For the first try, and sometimes three or four tries, every

non-ABS car killed that little stuffed thing.  One person even managed to

get it in contact with the exhaust system, and set it on fire!  The ABS cars

just stopped, with no drama.  With some practice, the drivers of the non-ABS

cars were able to stop in time.  This was under the "ideal conditions" for

non-ABS cars - had there been a corner or uneven pavement, it would have

been even more dramatic.  The stuffed animal was in very rough shape by the

end of the day.



I can see how, on a racecourse, the ABS would not be as effective as

"regular" brakes.  You're approaching the same turns over and over, learning

just how far you can push it and how your car will stop on the perfect

pavement.  It's a controlled environment, with fewer variables than in the

real world (direction of traffic, pedestrians, driver distraction).  In the

real world, you have ONE chance.  It may not be a stuffed animal.  



Unless you practice threshold braking every day, I doubt you'd be able to

stop faster without ABS.  While you may be a better driver than average,

you'd have to be pretty darn good to really claim you were too good for ABS.

Baby doesn't have ABS, but I wish she did.



Keith and Baby, who thinks Keith should go and practice braking some more...

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