This study presents the results of an analysis of two sources of data:​ a sample containing 1392 drivers of ABS-equipped vehicles, and a dataset containing 40.5 ABS-related complaints. Survey respondents were asked about the purpose of ABS, the correct use of ABS, and whether their ABS had either prevented a collision or caused them to have one in the past two years. The complaints data were examined to determine to what extent the reported problems arose as a result of driver mis-use and/or mis-understanding of ABS.

About 18 percent of the ABS-users surveyed thought that pumping the brakes was the correct way to operate them, while close to 40 percent thought that the purpose of ABS was to stop faster, and/or prevent all skids. About 47 of the ABS-related complaints involved loss of control/extended stopping distance incidents with normally-operating ABS;​ about 73 percent of these incidents had resulted in collisions.