31 No ABS… bugger! Use the threshold technique instead
Not everyone enjoys the benefits of ABS fitted to their vehicle as standard. That being the case if you’re too heavy with the brake pedal, you’ll likely lock-up your front wheels (maybe back too) and lose all steering ability. With the front wheels skidding across the surface you’ll simply plough into that vehicle or object you’re trying to avoid no matter how hard you swing the steering wheel. You need to get off the brakes, only marginally, to regain control. Try this. When an emergency unfolds, stomp on that brake pedal. If you hear the telltale screech of the tyres in a skid, back off the brake pedal pressure minutely. The skidding sound should vanish instantly, which tells us the wheels are now turning again and steering control should have returned. Maintain strong brake pedal pressure, ready to further modify (soften) your pedal push if the road space becomes less grippy and the lock-up returns. With wheels turning you should be able to subtly guide your vehicle around the obstacle and diminish or even miss having a crash. Some people say pump the brake pedal repeatedly (that’s crap). Each time you come off the pedal you’ll pick up speed, that’s no good and a human can’t replicate the speed, efficiency or finesse of an ABS system, which is what this technique attempts to emulate. Threshold braking should be an instinctive thing for you to do on bitumen and dirt in a non-ABS equipped vehicle!!!