As National Highway fatalities continue to drop one major reason is better brakes. All new cars now feature some form of Anti Lock Braking and most also have stability control. Big trucks and Motor Homes are also increasing their braking technology as the days of skidding out of control begin to fade into a distant memory so are many, many lives saved every day.
If you are in my age group remember when you were told never brake in a curve and steer in the direction of the skid. Now those are out dated driving techniques as with anti lock brakes and stability control you can easily brake in a curve and steer in the direction you want to go with stability control.
With these new systems comes the new responsibility of maintaining them and like so many other features on your car they have lights that tell you when they are in need of service. It never ceases to amaze me how many people drive around with these lights on. Like all things mechanical the old Fram oil filer saying holds true. “You can pay me now or you can pay me later”. With that paying later idea may be more than you can afford on all sorts of levels when it comes to these systems. You are not only risking yours and your own families lives you are risking the other drivers around you especially in front of you. Get those lights checked Out!
Brakes also play a major role in towing a trailer, often people reason that if the engine is strong enough and the transmission and suspension I am good to go…. Oh NO YOUR NOT…The brakes have to be able to stop you, the brakes are often the weakest link when figuring trailer towing specification on vehicles. Bigger trailers have their own brakes but the engineering of stopping all that weight front to back requires more braking power and those folks figuring the trailer towing specifications are taking that all into account. So do not tow more weight than your vehicle is rated for and then by all means don’t go down a mountain road doing it. You may have the experience of using those “Runaway Truck Sand Pits”.
Being able to stop and stay stopped has long been an issue of faith. Hebrews 6:19 “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” Emergency situations create a sense that everything is out of control, serious auto accidents change your life forever in just a moment. A house fire or a cancer diagnosis everything goes wild what mattered moments ago is not even on the radar. In those moments your Anchor will pull tight and either dig in or break lose. An emergency brake works similarly as the tension required either sets it or it snaps the cable. As with that ABS light that has been on for months either you have invested time and yourself into your eternal safety or the light flashing is telling you to check under the hood. Jesus is my Anchor.
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