MOT & ABS

The MOT does not check ABS function, but does check whether the ABS light works correctly. Testing of the ABS would require more complex procedures than could be obtained at an MOT station without considerable extra expense (if it could be done at all) If the light operates correctly and the system has not been modified then the ABS should operate correctly. You can test it yourself by hitting the brakes hard on a slippery surface, the pedal should vibrate rapidly underfoot.

Thanks Mr C. It did function during the snow and ice, but I was surprised how rough the vibration felt. I suppose I was expecting it to be smoother. It's the first car I have with it fitted, usually hanging onto cars for a long time.

If it felt rough it was working properly :-)

Its rough to tell you its operating - ie - stop driving so quickly - your abs is having to make up for your driving.. The alternative would be no indication at all, then you wipe out as you din;t realise it was so slippy..

It's NOT a good thing to have in the snow and ice! It takes longer to stop. Shame it doesn't switch off. With locking the wheels you can build up a wedge of snow which is effective at slowing you down. In the wet or braking whilst tryng to avoid an OAP or woman driver the ABS is great.

I'm not confident it is a good thing, (for me). For new drivers, may be, but for old f**ts such as me, not good. I've had a couple of cars with ABS. Using one of them years ago, Focus V reg., because I have always used cadence braking when needed (rarely), I did the same thing automatically and just nudged the rear bumper of the car in front of me in wet conditions on the M1. The unfortunate fellow that I hit had been driving for 20x years as a commercial traveller without incident!

Yes, my fault and I guess there are few that practice cadence braking these days? Are there others?

I very lightly touched the back bumper of a learner that swerved in front of me and slammed the brakes on, I was in a customer's car with abs, but with really s*it make tyres on. I know that my own car would have stopped (michelin tyres) but this thing just glided on, abs operating etc. but not stopping. I think that without abs I could have stopped it, but the combo of abs, poor tyres and my cadence braking (automatic because it started sliding) meant that I just got the car in front. There was no damage to the customer car and only a scuff on the learner car so we just went our own ways. So rule 1: use good tyres, rule 2: allow for ANY possible movement of other cars, no matter how unlikely.

When I apply the brakes it usually does make me stop driving so quickly.

Not on ice...

ABS don't work when all 4 wheels are on ice. The ABS operates so wheels don't lock, you don't stop but on ice you can't steer.

A further issue is that once it starts to operate many people lift off and so don't stop quickly enough.