Analysis of traffic safety of vehicles equipped with ABS

Abstract

In some dangerous situations, conventional brake systems cause serious problems during forced braking. It is impossible to control a vehicle when friction is fully engaged on braking, and vehicle stability is often impaired by different braking forces on different surfaces (causing skidding of the vehicle). ABS has been designed to solve control and stability problems of vehicles during forced braking. ABS has also contributed to achievement of greater deceleration and reduced braking distance on many surfaces. Therefore the experts expected strong positive effect of ABS on traffic safety. According to experiments, although ABS achieved goals for which it was introduced, greater effects on traffic safety were missing. About zero total reducing of risk of involvement in traffic accidents was revealed in first studies. Even greater risk of fatal injuries of ABS vehicle owner/user, especially in single vehicle accidents, was generally surprising. Accident types and traffic situations (road conditions) with greater risk against other ones with risk reduced because of ABS can be determined thanks to recent studies. It appears that ABS contributes to reducing of risk of all accident types except side impacts, especially when passenger cars are involved. ABS contributes to avoid collisions with pedestrians, accidents involving vehicle turning over or running off the road, and head-on collisions with other moving vehicles. Although there are very serious studies conducted to explain these phenomena, causes of risk change in some accidents are still unknown. In this paper, results of the most significant researches devoted to ABS influence on traffic safety are shown, together with different explanations and the recommendation of measures for reducing negative ABS influence in our circumstances.