Why do we do it?

[BillB]

Stuart

With regard to abs, you won't equal it manually - not even close. It reaĺy is an excellent safety feature.

[stuart bowes]

Then again, do you really need to 'match' it? If you allow the right space, according to prevailing weather and road conditions, 99% of the time you're fine regardless of ABS or not

it is funny, when i look back at the two times I've rear ended someone (a lot younger) both times I was driving ABS cars and it made no difference

and then I look back at the brown-pants moments I've had in various non-ABS cars and managed to bring them to a halt, rain and snow, you name it. maybe a couple of feet closer than ABS?

The deciding factor actually wasn't ABS at all, it was paying attention

On a daily driver, or for less experienced / tentative drivers it's probably a sensible option, but for a sporty / fun / drivers car it shouldn't be necessary. you certainly wouldnt want it on a track day car for example. a lot of race cars dont even have servos lol

so, i guess, horses for courses and personal preference. etc. I guess it's in the same ballpark as power steering and traction control. yes it makes day to day life easier but it takes you one step further away from the driving experience (and makes for a serious shock when you find yourself driving something without them)

[BillB]

Yes, 99% of the time (probably 99.9%), you don't need abs (or seat belts or airbags). But I think that when it deploys it's far more effective than the driver trying to pump the brakes. abs frequency is 5 to 10 Hz, a rate we couldn't possibly match. If you brake on ice or loose gravel, the abs would be far more effective than the driver trying to react, that's all I'm saying.