![]() ![]() The first road car to feature ABS was the 1966 Jensen FF. It didn't take long for vehicle engineers to realise that the system could also be beneficial on cars. ![]() This hydraulic system improved aircraft stopping distances when landing, as it all but eliminated the risk of wheels locking, even on ice, and it dramatically reduced flat spotting and tyre blow outs, too. While the concept of non-locking brakes has been around for a number of years, the first truly effective anti-lock braking systems have been around since the 1950s, when British firm Dunlop first developed its Maxaret system for use in aviation. This allows the driver to maintain steering control, which is lost when the wheels are locked. In many ways the electronics are performing cadence braking - where the driver pumps the brake pedal to prevent wheel lock. If a wheel does lock, then hydraulic valves release to reduce braking pressure ever so slightly to prevent this happening. The basic principle is that sensors fitted to a car's wheels determine if one is on the verge of locking up under braking. Most people are aware that their car is fitted with ABS, but far fewer know what it does and how it works. ABS gradually appeared as a safety feature on new cars from the 1970s onwards, while EU law has made it compulsory fitment on all cars built since 2004. This helps a driver maintain control of a vehicle when braking in low grip situations, because a car's steering will still work when ABS is engaged. In simple terms, ABS uses electronics to detect and prevent wheel lock up. The introduction of ABS - the anti-lock brake system, to give it its full name - was one of the most important developments in new car safety.
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