What should a driver do when braking a vehicle with an anti-lock braking system?

When braking a vehicle equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the correct action is to apply the brakes firmly and hold them. ABS is designed to prevent the wheels from locking up during hard braking, which allows the driver to maintain steering control and avoid skidding. When a driver presses the brake pedal firmly, the ABS system activates and modulates the brake pressure, which effectively manages the braking force to prevent wheel lockup.

Releasing the brake pedal immediately would negate the benefits of the ABS, leading to potential loss of control, as the vehicle may not stop effectively. Gradually pumping the brakes is also not recommended with an ABS, as the system is built to handle rapid applications of pressure. Lastly, switching off the anti-lock system defeats its purpose entirely and can result in a dangerous situation where the driver is unable to effectively control the vehicle during hard braking scenarios. Thus, the most effective and safe approach with ABS is to apply the brakes firmly and hold.