So, HLDI researchers studied claims in 29 northern states during the winter months where inclement weather was the norm. They found no difference in the frequency of claims for vehicles with or without antilock brakes. We don't know how many crashes are preceded by skidding or loss of control that antilocks could have prevented, but the new HLDI findings suggest the number cannot be very high. The HLDI findings do not apply to all vehicles. Antilocks provide a clear safety advantage for big trucks.
Tractor trailers have poor braking capabilities compared with cars.
On dry surfaces, they take much farther than cars to stop. On wet and slippery surfaces, the disparity is even worse. Because tractor trailers are articulated, they can jackknife during heavy braking. These characteristics magnify the importance of antilock brakes which are required on new trucks in Europe and Japan. British fleet managers report they have virtually eliminated jackknifing crashes since fitting their fleets with antilocks.