I’ve been told that “pumping the brakes” to slow down while driving in the snow is no longer advisable. Why is that? —Emily Owen, via email
Because it’s not necessary. And it might actually be dangerous. “Before anti-lock braking systems were common, pumping the brakes was a recommended method to prevent wheel lock-up,” says Angelo DiCicco, the president and CEO of the Ontario Safety League. “By rhythmically pressing and releasing the pedal, drivers could try to maintain partial traction and some ability to steer.”
But ABS became standard in most vehicles by the early 2000s. “The system automatically performs the pumping action, but at a much faster rate than a human ever could, often pulsing the brakes dozens of times per second,” says DiCicco. Turns out, you trying to do the job of the ABS confuses the ABS. “It interferes with system function and reduces your control.”
What to pack in a winter driving survival kit
But wait, modern technology has made winter driving even less labour intensive. “Since September 2011, Electronic Stability Control (ESC, or VSC for ‘Vehicle Stability Control’) has been mandatory on all new vehicles sold in Canada,” says DiCicco. “And ESC is a game-changer.”
That’s because a car with ESC can read your mind. No, wait. That’s a car with ESP. Actually, “an ESC system senses the direction you want the vehicle to go based on steering input and vehicle movement and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to help pivot or redirect the vehicle,” says DiCicco. “Ultimately, this helps prevent skidding or spinning in slippery situations.”
If your car is equipped with both ABS and ESC, and you need to stop quickly in wintry conditions, keep your foot firmly on the brake, look where you want the vehicle to go, and steer in that direction, says DiCicco. “The car’s onboard systems will automatically take over from there. Let your eyes lead your hands, and let the ESC interpret your intention.” Ooh, then ask your car, “What number am I thinking of right now?”
Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2025 issue of Cottage Life.
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