BRAKES that prevent a car from going into uncontrollable skids on wet and icy
roads are obviously desirable. It’s easy to see how an anti-lock braking system
(ABS) can prevent accidents and reduce road injuries. So it’s a shock to find
out that they don’t
(see “Collision course”).
This paradox seems to stem from the effect known as risk compensation. Just
as trapeze artists do riskier stunts with a safety net in place, so ABS makes
drivers feel more confident about driving faster and braking later. The effect
isn’t new. After Britain made seat belts compulsory for people in the front…
