ABS and Stability Control

Warnings
Some bits of warning: Some early forms of stability control acted only to quell oversteer and did nothing to cure understeer. This could create a rude surprise if the driver didn't notice that the roads were slippery. Also, there are some conditions—especially during winter and off-road conditions—that early generation ABS doesn't produce as short of stops as with wheels locked. However, even then you don't risk spinning out and also retain some steering control.


As a driver, how do you fully exploit these systems? For ABS, it's easy. In an emergency situation, POUND THE BRAKE PEDAL as if you're trying to break it off, HOLD IT TO THE FLOOR, and-this is important-STEER AROUND THE SITUATION. For stability control, there's little you need do except to explore its potential in a safe environment: Find an empty parking lot (with no obstacles) on a rainy or snowy day and wrench the steering wheel in a stupidly aggressive manner.


Experienced performance drivers may find that some stability controls don't respond well with their natural instincts. For instance, race drivers are trained to cope with understeer by leaving the steering wheel where it is, lifting off the gas and waiting for the traction to return (and praying the concrete wall doesn't get there first). If you do this with the system in the current BMW 3 Series, for example, it does not recognize you're in a push. That's because most drivers will incorrectly turn the steering wheel more into the corner. If you don't make this common error, the BMW system doesn't fully appreciate the level of understeer.


It's important to understand that neither ABS nor stability control CREATE grip. Nor do they offer diplomatic immunity from the laws of physics. There's a speed at which every car will go out of control, regardless of how sticky its tires, sophisticated its suspension, and advanced its computer-based driving aids. If it's rainy or icy, that limit speed may be quite low. Even if it's dry, if you enter a curve marked 25 mph at 80 mph, you may be headed for the hospital.

What's in a Name?
What's the difference between ESP and VSC? DSC and VSA? StabiliTrak and AdvanceTrac? All describe that company's version of electronic stability control. (Strangely, none call it ESC.)