Invar wrote:
In other words, if you are braking on a surface like wet asphalt or ice and you have no ABS and your wheels lock up, then yes, ABS would have given you a shorter braking distance. BUT if your wheels do NOT lock up and you are really applying the brakes properly, then ABS does NOT give you a shorter distance.

I would say that is a very big "IF" when you say if your wheels do not lock up on a car without ABS. Let's say you and I are traveling on the same surface at the same speed (lets say 80 mph)all other things being equal except your car has non ABS and mine has ABS. My gut tells me I will consistantly having shorter stopping distances than you will. My ABS will provide the maximum braking power available- just short of lockup. You have to have a pretty good touch (or be very lucky) on the pedal to achieve maximum braking power without lock up in a non ABS car. And then raise the stakes one more notch and say it is a potential panic situation- it requires a very cool dude indeed to achieve maximum braking without lockup in a non ABS car. Of course the best case is not getting into situations that require minimum stopping distances.

Randy