Vehicle Handling Performance During ABS Braking

It is important to remember that an antilock brake system does not shorten a vehicle's stopping distance under all driving conditions, but does provide improved control of the vehicle while stopping. Vehicle stopping distance is still dependent on vehicle speed, weight, tires, road surfaces and other factors.

Though ABS provides the driver with some steering control during hard braking, there are conditions however, where the system does not provide any benefit. In particular, hydroplaning is still possible when the tires ride on a film of water. This results in the vehicles tires leaving the road surface rendering the vehicle virtually uncontrollable. In addition, extreme steering maneuvers at high speed or high speed cornering beyond the limits of tire adhesion to the road surface may cause vehicle skidding, independent of vehicle braking. For this reason, the ABS system is termed Antilock instead of Anti-Skid.