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Call it a TCS (Traction Control System) or ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator)… for many drivers it can be a lifesaver, especially if you are not familiar with driving in slippery conditions. It’s not just for ice-covered winter roads. Traction control can also assist when there’s water on the road during other seasons of the year.

First Warning

If you’ve ever driven on an icy road, you remember that floating feeling that occurs when one or more of your wheels is spinning but isn’t gaining any purchase on the ground you’re covering. It might feel like you are slowing down, and often, drivers will accelerate when they feel the sensation. The TCS stops that impulse and takes control over those car functions.

• Inhibit or reduce spark to one of the engine cylinders
• Limit fuel supply to one of the cylinders
• Close the throttle if appropriate
• Activate one or more of the brakes if needed

Although Traction Control has been available on high-performance vehicles since the 1990s, the function has become more and more widespread as it appears on less expensive vehicles. In addition to the safety control of the microprocessor that makes all of the decisions, a warning light will often appear on the dashboard to warn the driver of slippery conditions. With winter’s deadly black ice, your car might be aware of bad conditions before you are.

If you aren’t fortunate enough to have TCS/ASR on your vehicle, there are other ways you can drive more cautiously on bad roads.

• Run the air conditioner (on hot, in the winter) to remove condensation from the inside of your windows.
• Make sure your wiper blades and headlights are in good working order.
• Replace your tires if needed. Bald tires spell disaster on icy roads.
• Learn proper braking procedure. In vehicles with ABS brakes, just stomp, stay and steer. In non-ABS vehicles, pump your brakes slowly to avoid locking your tires. Tires that aren’t moving provide very little traction, so it helps to gain traction by maintaining friction.

Traction Control might sound similar to Electronic Stability Control, which is mandatory on all vehicles manufactured in 2012 and beyond. It is indeed similar, but it operates in a different way. We’ll explore ESC in a future blog post.