Guys,
I've been happy with my 2005 Prius, and praised the systems which keep the car from skidding on icy roads. However, I've noticed an unexpected side effect of this system which could cause potential trouble.
In an vehicle without an anti-skid system, if you are at an intersection making a right turn, and there is oncoming traffic that you decide that you can beat, you simply "put the petal to the metal", some small gravel flies, and you make your turn onto the other road.
However, if you try this in a Prius, when you "put the petal to the metal", the anti-skid system kicks in, and practically shuts down the propulsion system, stopping the gravel from flying, slowing you to a crawl, and not letting up until you are most of the way through the turn. This can make for a few heart-pounding seconds as you wait for the anti-skid system to let up, and hope that the oncoming traffic doesn't arrive before you are out of the way.
Whether you actually clear the intersection faster with the anti-skid system, or without, is difficult to know. The psychological effect of having acceleration removed from your control, while traffic is fast approaching, makes for some interesting physiological effects.
Without careful measurement, I'd recommend that you not put yourself in harms way in this manner. The Prius might actually get you out of the way faster than "letting the gravel fly", but I wouldn't want to bet on it.
Paul