Braking In Emergencies - Chevrolet 2009 Cobalt Owner's Manual

ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, as
required, faster than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, there will not be enough time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let antilock work. A slight brake pedal
pulsation might be felt or some noise noticed, but this
is normal.
4-6

Braking in Emergencies

At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If the vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with
Antilock Brake System (ABS), it allows the driver to steer
and brake at the same time. However, if the vehicle does
not have ESC with ABS, the first reaction — to hit the
brake pedal hard and hold it down — might be the wrong
thing to do. The wheels can stop rolling. Once they do,
the vehicle cannot respond to the driver's steering.
Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be
off the road, into the very thing the driver was trying to
avoid, or into traffic.
If the vehicle does not have ABS, use a "squeeze"
braking technique. This gives maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. Do this by pushing on
the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This helps retain steering control. Without ABS, it is
different. See Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5.
In many emergencies, steering can help more than
even the very best braking.