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Antilock Braking Systems and the Future of Motorcycle
Safety
Motorcyclists must do all they can to ensure their safety on the road,
especially in light of recent statistics. According to the World Health
Organization, more than half a million cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists
die each year from traffic accidents. The European Union recently drafted
legislation that would require an increased safety measure, antilock
braking systems, to be installed on motorcycles. As the European Union
has much influence around the world, motorcycle manufacturers now incorporate the technology into many modern bikes, according to Consumer Reports.The technology of antilock braking systems
Motorcycles are unique in that a wheel can lock if the brakes are hit too hard or if the motorcyclist applies the wrong front/rear distribution. This can cause the rider to lose control and eventually fall off the motorcycle. With antilock braking systems, riders can apply as much force on the brakes as they want, and forgo the risk of a wheel locking up. ABS can also reduce brake pressure if a lockup is about to happen or increase pressure again when the bike is under control. If the brakes are squeezed too gently on a bike without ABS, then the motorcyclist might not stop in time to avoid a crash. The system doesn’t affect normal braking performance, and a rider would only notice it if an emergency happened. Antilock braking systems can be incorporated in both conventional braking systems and combined braking systems, which link one or both controls to both wheels.
Relevant research
A brochure published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows how motorcycles with integrated antilock braking systems have a 31 percent less chance of being involved in a fatal crash than those same models without the system. Further, collision insurance claims for motorcycles with ABS are filed 20 percent less often than motorcycles without ABS. Collision claims for bikes with both ABS and combined controls are filed 31 percent less frequently. In test track performance studies, motorcycles with ABS have been shown to stop more quickly. Also, the distances to stop become more efficient on both wet and dry surfaces.
Differing views
The motorcycling community has different takes on antilock braking technology, according to an article by the New York Daily News. Many riders say the technology could be a waste of money since it’s not failsafe. They claim new motorcyclists will become reliant on the system, and won’t know how to properly handle a bike without it. However, proponents say that antilock brakes are significant to the cause of motorcycle safety.
Antilock braking systems have a bright future in the world. Compilations of data involving fatal crash studies, insurance claims and test track performance all point to ABS as an effective means to improve the safety of motorcyclists. Although the usefulness of the technology is contested, one thing is for certain: ABS will continue to gain more recognition as a technology of value.
