Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems ABS OPERATORS MANUAL - Manual (Page 5)

5
I MPORTANT S AFETY I NFORMATION A BOUT
B ENDIX
® A NTILOCK B RAKING S YSTEMS (ABS)
Braking With ABS
• Do not pump your brakes. Use steady, even brake applications. Apply
the brake pedal with the same pressure as you would without ABS. If you are
towing a vehicle that is not equipped with ABS, you may need to adjust your
braking applications in some instances. See below.
• Do not attempt to modulate your brake applications to prevent
wheel lock. The system controls braking pressure automatically and
independently at each wheel end.
Limitations Of ABS
• ABS does not apply the brakes automatically. It’s still up to you to
apply the brakes at the right time and with the right amount of pedal force. A
basic ABS system only starts to do its job after you apply the brake pedal.
Note: The optional RSP
® roll stability system can automatically reduce
the throttle and apply the brakes to maintain vehicle stability. See page 7.
• ABS is not a substitute for safe driving. Even with ABS, you must remain
alert, react appropriately and in a timely manner, and drive defensively. Don’t
take unnecessary risks. Cautious driving practices, such as maintaining an
adequate distance away from the vehicle ahead, not speeding, anticipating
obstacles and adjusting your vehicle’s speed for traffic, weather and road
conditions, are essential for safe operation.
Towed Vehicles Without ABS
Some towed vehicles, especially older trailers built before 2001, may not be
equipped with their own ABS systems. Use extra care when towing a
vehicle that is not equipped with its own ABS system. During emergency
braking or braking on slippery surfaces, a non-ABS equipped trailer could lose
its lateral stability and swing out if its wheels lock up. Use your mirrors to
watch carefully and adjust your brake applications as necessary to keep your
tractor and the non-ABS equipped towed vehicle in line with each other. Tractor
ABS helps reduce the tendency to jackknife, but it cannot prevent a non-ABS
equipped trailer from swinging out.