Accident-ABS failed?

buglawton

lister wrote: »

As the internet was around before the 1980s, I am impressed that you read about it before the study was done

I guess you mean the web... (and even then, it has been around since 1992 or so - and I guess you might have read about the data after that)

I think you know what I meant. Stuff just wasnt being indexed before about 2000.

Joe_Horner

buglawton wrote: »

Mercedes did a study when ABS was first developed in the 1980s. They collected statistics from otherwise similar Taxi drivers in Turkey driving ABS and non ABS Mercedes cars. The ABS equipped drives intuitively adapted by closing up their stopping distance. Their average collision stats adjusted to be practically the same as non ABS.
I read about this long before the internet so cant cite the source.

The data's pretty mixed but a lot of other studies have found similar effects - and the effect of driers "adapting" to increased safety was first noted (not specifically regarding AB of course) as early as 1938!

https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/218270/racv-abs-braking-system-effectiveness.pdf

esmerobbo

supermum38 wrote: »

I have driven just as many cars with ABS as without. I am aware of the difference and prefer ABS. I have had accidents in both types and know the difference ABS makes. This is only the second time I am at fault.

I think this paragraph says a lot!

Except for a bit of ice, or wet leaves, activating the ABS and reminding me I have it.

I have never needed to know which is better!

A no fault accident does not always mean you were not at fault!;)

marlot

supermum38 wrote: »

...I have had accidents in both types and know the difference ABS makes....

I'll bow to your expertise then - you're clearly much more experienced than me at driving on the edge.

I've not had an accident in the last 600,000 miles, so what would I know? The spec for my last few cars all included ABS but I don't test it as a routine!

That doesn't mean my driving is perfect - far from it. I've had a few times, some of them recently, when I've mis-judged something, or someone else has nearly hit me. Each time I think about what I could have done differently, and try to do so from then on.

Car_54

buglawton wrote: »

Or it could be 1934, all of the above probably redundant and not even a driving test needed! You just needed to a rich and/or rare car driver.

In 1934, there were only 2 million cars on the roads, and we killed 7,000 people every year.

Maybe some of the changes have been for the better.

HHarry

esmerobbo wrote: »

A no fault accident does not always mean you were not at fault!;)

A few years back I had an accident after a brake pipe split, resulting in me failing to stop as quickly as I was expecting and hitting a third party. I like to think that there wasn't a lot I could do.

And that's the reason we have insurance - sometimes things are just accidents - it's not nice to take the 'blame' but simetimes you're just unlucky.

custardy

marlot wrote: »

I'll bow to your expertise then - you're clearly much more experienced than me at driving on the edge.

I've not had an accident in the last 600,000 miles, so what would I know? The spec for my last few cars all included ABS but I don't test it as a routine!

That doesn't mean my driving is perfect - far from it. I've had a few times, some of them recently, when I've mis-judged something, or someone else has nearly hit me. Each time I think about what I could have done differently, and try to do so from then on.

This is something I notice a lot. I seem to see younger women in the main,driving far too fast/close in urban areas.
We live in (what should be) a quiet residential area with a primary school,however I often see women 'flying' about in their cars.
Now this isnt about men being better drivers,only gonig on what I see.
I think in general its more likely to be a male speeding but in the specific area/example I gave it seems to be more women.
To me it seems they drive like the car will stop on a penny.

Norman_Castle

custardy wrote: »

I seem to see younger women in the main,driving far too fast/close in urban areas.
We live in (what should be) a quiet residential area with a primary school,however I often see women 'flying' about in their cars.

Some school run mothers are terrible. They only learn drive to transport their kids and have little interest in driving. Making the car move and pointing it in the right direction is all they need to do. Having a licence and insurance puts them just above joyriders.

Norman_Castle

supermum38 wrote: »

I was paying attention and hit the brakes hard but could not steer the car.

I have also found numerous references to my specific vehicle where electrical problems can disable ABS.

Did the front wheels lock up? Was it wet or icy?

pinkshoes

supermum38 wrote: »

We had both just left a traffic light and the driver in front went to pull out past parked cars then suddenly braked just behind them. I was paying attention and hit the brakes hard but could not steer the car.

At a low speed, the stopping distance with ABS would have made no different.

Oddly, on ice ABS can make the car travel further. Witnout ABS, when wheels lock it creates more friction causing the car to stop earlier. You just have to hope you don't spin!!

You are clutching at straws trying to put the blame on your car. By all means pay for an independent report into the brakes, but you are highly likely to be throwing good money after bad.

Ultimately, you were too close to the car in front to stop.