Yep, and pressing the "4wd" button does not magically make the snow go away either!

Winter tyres people....they make a fucking HUGE difference!!!

Minivan says "Whee! Come play with me! Hey, where you goin?"

Nice moves on the part of the camera's driver!

Calm nerves and some driving skills *ftw!

Adding video to channels (Ftw) - requested by messenger.

Mad skills. Driving in reverse on ice!

Newt, I gotta tell ya, there is no quicker way to stop than locking up all four wheels, other than spinning in the other direction on a dry surface to kill inertia (makes it worse on ice). You just have no control. ABS brake systems actually increase the distance needed to stop, they just provide the ability to control and turn at the same time.

From my experience, and physics class, that should only be true if your brakes suck. Physics don't lie, and I was taught that static friction is ALWAYS greater than kinetic friction...meaning rolling tires grip better than sliding tires every time. If your brakes are able to grip with more 'stopping' force than the sliding tire produces and still allow 'slip', they should be able to stop you faster than sliding.

Perhaps on ice that's true, or other slippery surfaces where the sensors get confused, or with really bad or broken ABS, but good ABS seriously reduces the distance to stop AND retains control by rapidly (thousands per second) pulsing the braking force up to maximum possible force without stopping the rotation. That should be more stopping force than locked tires can produce if the brakes are in good condition.

I've been in the car when an idiot friend decided to prove it to me, and slammed on his new BMW's brakes at about 70mph. The seatbelt hit so hard I had the wind knocked out of me, and we stopped ridiculously fast (WAY faster than when I've locked up non-abs cars on the freeway...repeatedly). Afterwards, he needed new brakes all around, because they gripped so hard and hot it warped the new rotors, but never locked up the tires...retaining static friction between the road and tire. Dumb...but informative.

I think that's only true on gravel, not bitumen. We don't have ice or snow here, so can't comment on that.

Ever watch any racing? Notice how locking up the tires is always called out as a bad thing? It's not because of flat-spotting, it's because the car won't stop as quickly so it won't make the corner. Or, in the case of two wheel racing, the bike just falls over from the sudden reduction in traction.

Better yet: http://videosift.com/video/Volvo-Trucks-Emergency-braking-at-its-best