Anti lock Braking System

Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) use electronic controls to maintain wheel rotation under hard
breaking that would otherwise lock a vehicle’s wheels. Keeping the wheels rotating increases
vehicle stability, especially when tire/roadway friction is reduced or varying, as when the
pavement is wet. Prior general understanding of the relationship between improved braking and
safety, together with earlier specific literature on antilock braking, leads one to anticipate a
complex interaction between ABS and safety. Test track evaluations have convincingly
demonstrated the technical advantages of ABS under a wide variety of conditions. A study
analyzing historical traffic crash data for a non-ABS vehicle fleet predicted that universal ABS in
Germany could diminish severe crashes by 10 to 15%. However, when taxi drivers in Munich
were randomly assigned vehicles with and without ABS, no overall difference in crash rates
between the two groups was observed, although each group experienced different types of
crashes. Because the severity of crashes apparently induced by ABS was less than that for the
crashes prevented, the study suggests that the ABS system led to a net reduction in harm. An
analysis of Swedish insurance data uncovered associations between the rates of occurrence of
different types of crashes and ABS. An analysis of Canadian insurance data found a 9%
reduction in claim frequency, but a 10% increase in average claim severity. The Highway Loss
Data Institute found no change associated with ABS in either the frequency or severity of traffic
crashes. A study using police-reported crashes per registered vehicle reports a 6% to 8%
reduction in crash risk due to ABS, while another study using fatal crashes finds an increase in
risk to occupants of ABS equipped vehicles but a decrease in risk to other road users. The
present paper aims at increasing understanding about the relationship between ABS and traffic
safety by summarizing the results of two recent studies, augmenting these results with additional
data and findings, and then comparing the results to other results in the literature. The first of the
two studies examined how ABS affects the relative risk of crashes in general under different
roadway, environmental, and other conditions using data on police reported crashes from two
states. The second study was confined to two-car crashes, and examined the following two
questions: How does ABS affect a vehicle’s risk of crashing into a vehicle it is following? How
does ABS affect a vehicle’s risk of being struck in the rear? This study used data from five
states. In the present paper the results of the first study are updated by including data from all
five states.
WORKING PRINCIPLE

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an automobile safety system that allows the wheels on a
motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while
braking, preventing the wheels from locking up (ceasing rotation) and avoiding uncontrolled
skidding. It is an automated system that uses the principles of threshold braking and cadence
braking which were practiced by skillful drivers with previous generation braking systems. It
does this at a much faster rate and with better control than a driver could manage.

ABS generally offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances on
dry and slippery surfaces for many drivers; however, on loose surfaces like gravel or snow-
covered pavement, ABS can significantly increase braking distance, although still improving
vehicle control. Since initial widespread use in production cars, anti-lock braking systems have
evolved considerably. Recent versions not only prevent wheel lock under braking, but also
electronically control the front-to-rear brake bias. This function, depending on its specific
capabilities and implementation, is known as electronic brake force distribution (EBD), traction
control system, emergency brake assist, or electronic (ESC).

Advantages of Anti-Lock Brakes

The main benefits of an anti-lock brake system (ABS) include.

• Stopping on ice. As mentioned above, an ABS prevents lock-ups and skidding, even in
slippery conditions. Anti-lock brakes have been proven to save lives in some situations by
helping drivers keep control of a vehicle.

• Lower insurance costs. Because it is a thoroughly tested safety device with a track record of
effectiveness, insurers often give customers specific discounts for having an ABS system on their
vehicle.

• Higher resale value. As a feature on a car or truck, an ABS raises the market value of the
vehicle. Nowadays, where ABS technology has become standard on many vehicles, not having it
could result in a lower price for resale.

• Traction control. An ABS shares some of the infrastructure of a traction control system, where
new technology helps ensure that each wheel has traction on the road. That makes it easy for
manufacturers to install both of these features at the factory.

Disadvantages of Anti-Lock Brakes

Despite the fact that anti-lock brakes are proven to be a safety feature in most situations, and
insurers consider them to significantly lower risk for a vehicle, not all drivers are sold on this
option for a car or truck. Here are some of the down sides that drivers find in this kind of brake
system.

• Inconsistent stop times. Anti-lock brakes are made to provide for surer braking in slippery
conditions. However, some drivers report that they find stopping distances for regular conditions
are lengthened by their ABS, either because there may be errors in the system, or because the
clunking or noise of the ABS may contribute to the driver not braking at the same rate.

• Expense. An ABS can be expensive to maintain. Expensive sensors on each wheel can cost
hundreds of dollars to fix if they get out of calibration or develop other problems. For some, this
is a big reason to decline an ABS in a vehicle.

• Delicate systems. It’s easy to cause a problem in an ABS by messing around with the brakes.
Problems include disorientation of the ABS, where a compensating brake sensor causes the
vehicle to shudder, make loud noise or generally brake worse.