Braking Assistance Systems - Volkswagen Golf 2015 Manual

Braking assistance systems

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
The ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR, and EDL braking assistance systems work only when the engine is
running. These systems can significantly improve active driving safety.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC helps to improve road holding and vehicle dynamics to help reduce the probability of skidding
and loss of vehicle control. It works only when the engine is running. ESC detects certain difficult
driving situations, including when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw) out of control. ESC then helps
you to get the vehicle back under control by selectively braking the wheels and/or reducing engine
power and by providing steering assistance to help hold the vehicle on the driver's intended course.
ESC has limitations. It is important to remember that ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics. It will
not always be able to help out under all conditions you may come up against. For example, ESC may
not always be able to help you master situations where there is a sudden change in the coefficient of
friction of the road surface. When there is a section of dry road that is suddenly covered with water,
slush or snow, ESC cannot perform the same way it would on a dry surface. If the vehicle
"hydroplanes" (rides on a cushion of water instead of the road surface), ESC will not be able to help
you steer the vehicle because contact with the pavement has been interrupted and the vehicle cannot
be braked or steered. During fast cornering, particularly on winding roads, ESC cannot always deal as
effectively with difficult driving situations as it can at lower speeds. When towing a trailer, ESC is not
able to help you regain control as it would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic, and weather conditions. ESC
cannot override the vehicle's physical limits, increase the available traction, or keep a vehicle on the
road if road departure is a result of driver inattention. Instead, ESC improves the possibility of keeping
the vehicle under control and on the road during extreme maneuvers by using the driver's steering
inputs to help keep the vehicle going in the intended direction. If you are traveling at a speed that
causes you to run off the road before ESC can provide any assistance, you may not experience the
benefits of ESC.
ESC includes and/or works together with the ABS, BAS, ASR, EDL, and XDL systems (see below).
ESC is switched on all the time. In certain situations when you need less traction or additional traction
cannot be achieved, you can switch off ASR in the Infotainment system by pressing the
and ESC System function keys ⇒ Menu and system settings (SETUP).
followed by the
Be sure to switch ASR on again when you no longer need less traction.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
In the event of an accident, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help the driver to reduce
the risk of skidding and the danger of secondary collisions through automatic braking.
The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System only functions in frontal, side, and rear collisions if the
airbag control unit registers the corresponding triggering threshold during the accident, and the
accident occurs at a speed greater than 6 mph (10 km/h).
The ESC brakes the vehicle automatically, provided that the hydraulic braking system, the ESC, and
the electrical system are undamaged in the accident and remain functional.
The following actions override automatic braking in the event of an accident:
When the driver depresses the accelerator. No automatic braking occurs.
When the brake pressure transmitted through the depressed brake pedal is greater than the brake
pressure provided by the system. The vehicle is braked manually.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS helps to keep the wheels from locking up and helps to maintain the driver's ability to steer and
control the vehicle. This means the vehicle is less likely to skid, even during hard braking:
Push the brake pedal down hard and hold it there. Don't take your foot off the pedal or reduce the
force on the pedal!
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