I take it most of you know the facts:
- The friction between to objects is higher when they are not sliding across each other.
- ABS prevents the wheels from locking and skidding, therefor maintaning better traction and stopping a car faster compared to a skidding vehicle. (on solid surfaces like asphalt)
- A rolling wheel has better traction than a sliding/skidding wheel. (First point)
- People learned cadence- and threshold-braking before cars had ABS-systems
because of the above point.
- Newer versions of ABS can manage the breaking power seperatly for each of the 4 wheels, which is impossible for a human driver (unless they add 4 breakes controlled by each toe, haha).
And something not everyone has read/heard of?..
According to a test done by RACV in 2004, ABS actually increces the stopping distance on loose materials such as snow or gravel! Non-ABS-fittet vehicles did however loose control when skidding on snow/gravel, while ABS-fitted vehicles maintained control, but stopping distance is better without ABS on snow/gravel.
On all other surfaces ABS is better than non-ABS braking.
SOURCE
I'd stick to ABS-fitted vehicles. Usually we drive on asphalt and the few times you have to drive on snow/gravel the speedlimits are lower or just be smart about it and slow down anyway.
Anyway, with or without ABS, if you car won't turn or starts spinning due to slippery roads and you need to steer away from something, let go of the brakes and acceleration and only use the clutch which will focus 100% of the traction from the wheels on the ground.