32 - Friday. July 10, 1992 — North Shore News Safety systems only as effective as the driver TWO OF the most heralded advances in automobile safety technology, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and airbags, will soon become standard equipment on most new: automobiles and light trucks. Within the next five years, new vehicles will offer both driver and passenger airbags and four-wheel anti-lock brake systems. Airbags for rear passengers, and even side-door airbags, are also under development. Other safety technologiés, such as traction control and sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems, are becoming more wide- ly available as the technology _ becomes more widespread and the cost to the consumer comes down. However, the speed at which these developments have come in- to the marketplace has left many motorists confused. How exactly do anti-lock brakes work and what are the benefits? Under what conditions will an airbag inflate? Should a motorist spend anywhere from $500 to $1,500 to install an- ti-lock brakes or airbags if they are optional? Anti-lock brakes are probably the feast understood of all the new safety devices. When you slam on the brukes, a sensor in the wheels detects them locking up, and automatically ‘‘pumps’’ the brakes many times per second. The pur- pose is to provide improved tire grip and steering control when braking hard on slippery surfaces. For example, if you are entering a corner and have to brake sud- denly, ABS will help you.stay in your lane and not slide off the road or into the oncoming lane. Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION ABS improves your chance of steering around an object rather than helplessly ploughing into it. Anti-lock brakes don’t necessarily reduce the braking distance, but they do give you more control. However, what is often forgot- ten is that anti-lock brakes de- pend on the driver to be effective. In a panic braking situation, an inexperienced driver will often slam on the brakes and skid right into the object. Even if the car is: equipped with anti-lock brakes, a driver that panics or ‘‘freezes’’ will not be able to take advantage of its benefits. Understanding anti-lock brakes Get ch ready for Spring & ‘Summer Tune your ‘Mazda! Northshore Mazda service is now open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. We're offering 2 Great Evening Specials. Book after 5:00 p.m. to qualify. Includes: § 4-Litres oil & Oil Filter COMPLETE OVERHAULS ° ENGINES © TRANSMISSIONS ¢ CLUTCHES * SHOCKS Genuine Mazda Parts & Accessories Specialized Mazda Service requires some hands-on practice. There are a number of driving schools in British Columbia that teach brake and avoidance manoeuvres, but if you want to learn yourself, the best way is to pick a deserted gravel or icy park- ing lot, and do some testing. You don’t have to go very fast to activate your anti-lock braking system. Accelerate to about 30 km/h, and simply slam on the brakes hard and attempt to steer around an imaginary object. You will feel the brake pedal shudder- ing. Ignore it, and concentrate on steering. Depending on how slip- pery the surface is, you will find that you have varying degrees of steering control, and more than you would havé without the system. Anti-lock brakes have a hidden benefit. If you slam on the brakes on dry asphalt, the system will prevent the tires Trom leaving a - 18-3041 jong trail of rubber on the sur- face, and ‘‘flatspotting’’ your tires. Flatspotting means that your tires are not perfectly round, and the result is a bumping sensation in the cockpit when travelling at speed. This, of course, means you may have to buy a new set of tires, an expensive proposition. If you flatspot your tires just once in the life of your car, it will probably pay for the cost of an anti-lock braking system. Airbags do not require any ac- tive effort on the part of the driver or passenger, but they need to be understood so that the car’s occupants can benefit from them. First, airbags are supplementary to seatbelts. A properly worn lap and shoulder seatbelt (don’t put the shoulder belt under your arm) provides the most protection in a crash. The airbag, which will only in- FULL-SIZE PICKUP WAS $25,345 WAS $20,673 “NEW COMPACT PICKUP FIVE TO CHOOSE FROM WAS $10,198 NET OF REBATES — PLUS FREIGHT 192 LUMINA APY « WAS $22,188 flate in frontal collisions at speeds greater than about 15 km/h, is designed to cushion the head and upper body from hitting the steer- ing wheel, windshield, and roof. It will not infiate in any low-speed collision, or in high-speed side, offset, or rear collisions (which encompass the majority of colli- . sions). Most cars have two collision sensors in the front of the car which react to sudden deceleration forces. They electronically ignite explosive pellets which fill the air- bag with harmless nitrogen gas in less than a second. The airbag then deflates threugh vents in the bag. - Airbags, in combination with seatbelts, have been shown to be. extremely effective in preventing injury in high-speed head-on col- lisions. Drivers have literally See Test page 33 now £21,425 § now $16,675 LOADED now °19,988 _THE LATEST IN AVANTGARDE