Most vehicles today are available with anti-lock brake systems (ABS). If anti-lock brakes do not come standard on the SUV you intend to buy, be sure to choose ABS as an option. While ABS does not generally help a vehicle stop quicker than conventional brakes do on dry pavement, it has two distinct advantages. First, and most importantly, ABS allows you to steer your vehicle under full braking power. This is because ABS pumps the brakes many times per second (much faster than a human can), preventing wheel lockup and helping to maintain steering control. That means when that car suddenly stops in front of you, you can brake hard and still steer over to the shoulder if you won't stop fast enough to avoid an accident. In these instances, ABS can be the difference between a fender-bender and a close call. ABS can help you stop quicker on slippery pavement. Porsche invited Consumer Guide to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, for an SUV safety driving program. In simulated icy conditions at the Porsche program, an ABS-equipped vehicle stopped in a reasonable distance. With the ABS deactivated, our test Porsche Cayenne continued to skid for a distance that would have been at least twice as far as the ABS-equipped vehicle. In fact, it wasn't until the Cayenne left the simulated icy surface and got onto a wet asphalt surface that it had any grip at all. A well-trained driver may be able to pump the brakes and prevent a skid, thus stopping quicker. However, most drivers press the brake pedal in an emergency situation, making ABS the better choice.
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