ABS? Antilock Braking System
So is compulsory ABS a good thing? I have mixed feelings. Leaving aside the political concerns about freedom of choice, there are many considerations:
• Weight, cost and complexity (and consequent risk of failure!). • Whether ABS is appropriate for dual sport machines. • The likelihood of risk compensation ie of riders coming to rely on ABS. • The risk of ABS being seen as a performance feature. (it's worrying Honda have fitted the Fireblade with ABS before the learner and middleweight machines they sell to inexperienced riders). ª• The arguments about whether or not a skilled rider can out-brake ABS
The important question is whether technological measures are the right answer to the braking problem. Firstly, there are arguments about how many accidents could be prevented by ABS. The pro-ABS case seems to be based on a Swedish study that suggests 48 per cent of all serious and fatal accidents could be prevented with the help of ABS. On the other hand studies indicate that in 80 to 87% of PTW accidents, ABS is ineffective.
ABS or linked brakes should enable more rapid upright deceleration from a particular speed whilst maintaining a controlled stop. ABS should reduce the fear of hard braking. Studies suggest riders only use the front brake to 60% of its potential when braking in an emergency because of the fear of locking the wheel. The benefit to the rider is shorter braking distances. But ABS can only offer benefit if, there is grip to be had and there is sufficient distance to stop in. I've been in the passenger seat of an ABS-equipped car that buried itself in a hedge when the driver braked too late then discovered ABS doesn't work on sheet ice. A rider making the same error will be unable to stop, regardless of the fitment of ABS, if he’s not left sufficient braking distance for the surface. A third issue is the effectiveness of ABS when braking in bends. Simply fitting ABS will not overcome the geometry changes which make braking and steering at the same time difficult. If anything, the ability to brake to the limit of adhesion might well make things worse. So where might ABS be expected to help?
It could help in urban areas, avoiding ‘SMIDSY’ accidents and to prevent hitting a slowing or stationary vehicle ahead of the rider. Studies show that many of the riders who are involved in such collisions where ABS might be hoped to bring a bike to a controlled halt, are inexperienced, often they are commuters, many of whom will be riding small machines after minimal training. Nevertheless, these riders would have had emergency stop training on CBT. So why doesn’t our training prevent junction accidents?
The problem to my mind is partly in the way emergency stops are taught, and partly in the mindset of the rider. Some years ago, I had a trainee out on her bike test when she crashed, locking the front brake when a car pulled out in front of her. The examiner commented that she had done a perfect emergency stop earlier and could easily have avoided the car. The conclusion has to be that there was nothing wrong with her braking technique per se but the car pulling out in front of her caught her cold and she panicked. Many riders see this kind of accident as 'unavoidable.’ In fact I came across this statement discussing this very issue of compulsory ABS: “The people who need training are car drivers. It doesn't matter how
much safety you have on a motorcycle it won’t stop them pulling out in front of you.” Clearly, as long as riders believe that, they won’t take the important steps that help protect them at junctions, ABS notwithstanding, in potentially hazardous situations like blind or busy junctions you need to position yourself where you can see and be seen – expect drivers to pull out so you’re not caught by surprise – practice braking skills – most importantly of all, slow down to reduce your momentum and thus your stopping
46 The ROAD
The EU Commission is recommending mandatory ABS on all bikes over 125cc whilst ABS or linked brakes will be compulsory fitment on machines up to 125cc from 2017.
distance. If you
halve your speed you reduce your stopping distance by THREE QUARTERS. My conclusions? ABS is at best an ‘after the fact’ aid. It should be clear that a more cautious approach to a hazard is far more effective than relying on ABS to stop you when the emergency DOES occur. ABS is not a solution to a lack of awareness and practical accident avoidance skills. How will riders use it? On the one hand there's a potential risk of experienced riders using it as a performance aid or allowing good control and judgment to go rusty. On the other hand riders don't emerge on the road as 'fully skilled' no matter how carefully and thoroughly instructors teach them, so for riders who are climbing the learning curve first time round and who haven't had the opportunity to hone their newly acquired skills in the first place, there could be a benefit in giving them a chance to avoid the panic lock-up of the sort that caused my trainee to crash. ABS might JUST help in an emergency but it won't prevent the emergency from happening. Kevin Williams
What do you think? The ROAD invites membersʼ views on the ABS question.
theroad@mag-uk.org
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