<VV> Re: ABS - no Corvair

[Bill Elliott]

After posting my initial email, I went to look to where I may have read 
that. I _think_ what I may have read was a misinterpretation of this 
study which no lower insurance losses

http://www.iihs.org/research/advisories/iihs_advisory_17.pdf

combined with this shocking study showed drivers of ABS cars to be more 
likely to be killed than drivers of nonABS cars:

http://www.iihs.org/news/1996/iihs_news_121096.pdf


The results of this study were never really explained but subsequent 
studies by the same group showed more expected data:

http://www.iihs.org/sr/pdfs/sr3504.pdf

Sorry for the promulgation of an apparent urban myth... and one 
misstated at that. I fully agree with Seth that the ability to steer 
under braking is paramount and a key advantage of ABS.

Bill



Sethracer at aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 11/10/2006 8:48:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
> corvair at fnader.com writes:
>
>     The second reason was the more interesting (and less confirmed). I
>     read
>     that ABS cars had slightly higher losses in "other than one car"
>     accidents... and the theory was that it was because the driver was
>     able
>     to still steer under heavy braking... and tended to steer INTO stuff
>     (like other cars) than sliding out of control in the natural arc of
>     travel...
>
> I think that is "Hogwash" - But I cannot confirm it one way or the 
> other. However, it is important to think of ABS brakes NOT as a 
> braking device, but as a steering device. I have driven a car in a 
> comparison test with and without ABS on a controlled, slippery, 
> surface. The difference will make you a believer. The correct action 
> when confronted with the ultimate "Throw out the Anchor" situation, in 
> an ABS equipped car or truck, is to push as hard as you can on the 
> pedal, let the ABS do it's job, and try to steer away from the rapidly 
> approaching solid object. - Seth



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