Many drivers have subscribed to the methods of the "on-off switch" school of
driving: the throttle is treated as an on-off switch - it is either floored or
it
is released, but there is nothing in between. Likewise, the brakes are treated
as
an on-off switch - they are either mashed to the floor, or released.
Modulation???
What the heck is that????? Ever watch the way certain people drive in shopping
center parking lots? It scares me to think of it. No wonder ground meat is on
sale
so often........
Jim
Ajhsys@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 01/19/2000 8:32:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> drded@ix.netcom.com writes:
>
> << I attended Skip Barber Driving School and we did " theshold braking" on the
> "skidpad". First we tried braking with ABS engaged on Dodge Neons from a
> speed of 50 MPH and the stopping distance was measured. We then switched off
> the ABS in the same cars and practiced braking using our own senses to avoid
> lockup and with all but one of the eight people in the class, stopping
> distance was decreased without using ABS. >>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> That's right. Threshold braking slows the car better than locking the
> wheels. ABS locks the wheels, releases them, locks them again, releases,
> etc., so they are locked for some amount of time, which means you are
> actually skidding.
>
> The advantage with ABS is for the average driver who has no skill at all. In
> a panic stop, he/she is going to lock the wheels and lose control of the car.
> Skip Barber taught you how to control the car by braking at the threshold of
> locking up, thereby stopping in the shortest distance possible. Most people
> on the roads today haven't had any real driver training and lack these skills.
>
> Allen Hefner
> Philly Region SCCA Rally Steward
> '77 Midget
> '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
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