The ABC'c of ABS

By: Gary Magwood

Date: Friday, 14. September 2007

Gary Magwood is a driving educator and freelance writer.

Technology in all its forms has (or is supposed to) make our lives easier, more relaxed and prevent us from harm. The recent Air Transat episode has again dramatically demonstrated how we have come to rely on technology. (On August 27, 2001, pilots around the world marvelled at the skill of Captain Robert Pich in handling his Air Transat A330 Airbus after the second of its two engines went silent at 34,500 feet, 137 kilometres from the airstrip in the Azores islands where it eventually landed.

It is fascinating to note that when technology fails the human element is still the final arbiter. Had Captain Robert Pich not been extensively trained and subsequently very experienced, the outcome of this story might not have been so fortunate.

This episode has reinforced my attitude towards all the high-tech, computer controlled components of modern vehicles. You know the stuff: anti lock brakes (ABS), traction control, and, recently, stability control systems. They are supposed to prevent loss of control (keeping in mind vehicles don't lose control, drivers do).

Let's start with ABS. It's an engineering solution for a human problem. Vehicles do not lock up their brakes; drivers do. We lock brakes because we lock our vision and have not been trained how to use our eyes and vision to threshold brake. Locked vision equals locked brakes. Locked brakes, no steering.

The engineers developed ABS to eliminate locked brakes to enable the driver to steer. Too bad it hasn't worked out the way it has been promoted. In reality it has provided false hope for untrained drivers.

ABS only works under very limited conditions. Wet pavement provides the best scenario. On snow covered and/or icy roads, gravel side roads and even on dry pavement its effectiveness is limited. In some cases it can even be a detriment to a driver's ability to bail out of an emergency. Unless the driver has been trained to threshold brake (on a skid pad) and learned to change the vehicle's direction by changing the direction of their eyes (looking where they want to go) then the technology will not deliver the advertised benefits.

I and my fellow driving educators teach threshold braking; squeezing the pedal and looking up. The object is to reduce speed dramatically in an emergency and still be able to steer. We have learned that the eyes do the braking; the amount of "pressure" on the eyes will determine the pressure on the brake pedal. If you are staring at an object that is a threat to your well-being all you can do is press harder and harder on the brake pedal. So even if the ABS is trying frantically to keep the brakes from locking you will probably smash into the object, maybe at a slightly slower speed than without ABS.

The fascinating human element in this scenario is that if you release your eyes from the looming object and look for a way out of the dilemma you will automatically release pressure off the brake pedal and steer in that direction - ABS or no ABS! So, training how to use the technology and to know its limits is of more benefit than just the technology.

This attitude also applies to the other innovations. No training, no realised benefit. If, as drivers, our biggest concern is how to parallel park in order to get our license, then it's no wonder we are incapable of dealing with an emergency. Common wisdom that dictates that just more experience behind the wheel will enable a driver to avert a crisis is false. Experience without training is useless.

Here's what Captain Pich said during his news conference: "...that's what you train for...", "...even though you're trained, ready, you're always surprised..." and finally, "You do as you've been taught, as you've been trained, and that's about it."

May I rest my case?

Redsix:
Recent excursion in new Audi S4, caused me to investigate the electronics that now control virtually all the performance capabilities of this and like motor cars. The algorhythms are closely held by the manufacturers, unseen by government regulators....

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wreckless,

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