When a vehicle with an Anti-Lock Braking System starts to lose traction on a slippery road, drivers should:
- Pump the brakes.
- Press and hold the brake pedal. ✓
- Press and hold the gas pedal.
- Lightly tap the brakes.
Answer: B. Press and hold the brake pedal.
Press and hold the brake pedal firmly when an ABS-equipped vehicle starts to lose traction.
Why this is the answer
The Florida handbook describes emergency braking with ABS as a firm, continuous action: push hard on the pedal, keep it down, and steer. It says the system pumps the brakes by itself, faster than a driver can. If you pump the brakes or let up on steady pressure, the ABS can turn off. That is why holding pressure matters on a slippery road: the handbook ties ABS to preventing skidding and helping you steer while braking.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Pump the brakes. — Pumping the brakes is the instruction for conventional brakes, and the handbook says pumping will disengage or turn off ABS.
- C. Press and hold the gas pedal. — Pressing and holding the gas pedal does not match the handbook's emergency braking instruction, which is to brake hard and hold the brake pedal while steering.
- D. Lightly tap the brakes. — Lightly tapping the brakes is not the firm, steady pressure the handbook requires for ABS; removing steady pressure or pumping can disengage ABS.
Remember it
Firm and steady with ABS: foot down, hold it, and steer.