What is ABS in cars?

ABS stands for Anti-lock Braking System, a crucial safety feature in modern cars designed to prevent the wheels from locking up during hard braking. When a driver brakes suddenly or on slippery surfaces, the wheels can stop rotating while the car is still moving, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of skidding or an accident. ABS helps maintain traction and steering ability by automatically modulating the brake pressure. Here’s how ABS works: The system uses sensors on each wheel to monitor their rotational speed. If the system detects that a wheel is about to lock up (meaning it’s decelerating too quickly), the ABS control unit quickly reduces the brake pressure on that wheel. It then reapplies pressure once the wheel regains traction. This rapid pulsing of brake pressure can happen many times per second, allowing the driver to maintain control and steer the vehicle while braking hard. Overall, ABS enhances vehicle safety by improving stability and steering during emergency braking situations, especially on slippery or uneven road surfaces. It doesn’t necessarily reduce stopping distance in all conditions but helps prevent skidding and loss of control, which can be critical for avoiding collisions.