In everyday driving situations, cars with both anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traditional braking systems are basically identical. In an emergency stopping situation, two distinctly different techniques are required. With traditional brakes, the cadence, or pumping technique, is effective, but the driver must lift off of the brake if steering is required to avoid an obstacle. The beauty of ABS is that pressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and holding it there allows the computer to pump the brakes while still maintaining some steering effectiveness. Remember that ABS can’t perform miracles. If you feel ABS engaging during everyday driving, slow down, because you are exceeding the reasonable speed for the conditions. With non-ABS brakes, the cadence (pumping) technique is most effective in an emergency, but the driver must lift off the brake if steering is required to avoid an obstacle.