Among the various safety features present in vehicles, the most important for preventing accidents is undoubtedly the braking system. To know how to act in a risky situation, it is essential to know what type of braking system your vehicle has and how it works.

In their early days, brakes were responsible for ensuring the reduction of speed and stopping of the automobile, simple as that. However, with technological evolution, this system has been improved and new functions have emerged that assist in braking safety and the dynamic behavior of the vehicle.

These innovations and improvements in braking systems require specific driver behavior when using the system in their vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how different types of brakes work and how to behave when using each one.

They can be disc, drum, or even air-operated for larger vehicles. They are activated directly by the driver when pressing the brake pedal and require attention when used.

In a sudden, high-speed stop, for example, while the brake pedal is held down, the car loses its maneuverability, causing the vehicle to slide in the direction it was traveling when braking occurred. In other words, in this case, turning the steering wheel with the wheels locked would be useless, as the car would not change its trajectory.

To avoid such loss of control and maintain steering conditions, it is necessary to prevent the wheel from locking completely; that is, the driver would have to intermittently press or "pump" the brake pedal so that the wheels do not lock completely and the vehicle can be steered.

By not letting the wheels lock up completely, you will also improve braking performance; to put it more directly, the car will stop faster.

ABS brakes (from English) Anti-lock Braking SystemThe anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a mandatory system installed in cars manufactured in Brazil since the beginning of 2014. It is an electronic system that prevents the vehicle's wheels from locking completely during braking when the driver keeps the brake pedal fully depressed. This allows the steering wheel to correct the trajectory, thus shortening the distance to a complete stop for the vehicle.

This technology can also be assisted by other systems, such as EBD (from the English Electronic Brake Force DistributionThis is an electronic brake control system. It is responsible for distributing the force applied to the brakes, helping to further ensure stability and a shorter stopping distance during braking.

This type of braking is activated even when not requested by the driver, when the system detects a loss of vehicle stability. It is found in stability control systems, sometimes called ESP (Electronic Stability Program) by some manufacturers. Electronic Stability ProgramThey are able to lock each of the wheels independently, helping to correct the vehicle's trajectory.

ESP can correct the vehicle's trajectory if necessary by monitoring steering wheel movements and comparing them to the actual trajectory (in the Bosch system, this check occurs 25 times per second). If needed, the system can intervene in the engine and accelerate the wheels.

The use of electronic braking systems currently provides drivers with a much higher level of safety compared to traditional systems, as they share the responsibility of controlling the vehicle with the driver in risky situations, allowing ordinary drivers to have greater control over the vehicle.

Always check the condition of your brake system. If you need a good repair shop, do some research online first or ask around and find the nearest reliable shop.