Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a system that helps prevent the wheels of your car from locking, thus preventing your car from skidding out of control. ABS also allows you to steer your car while breaking strongly. In wet or icy conditions, where your car has less traction, ABS prevents your car from sliding and crashing as well as maintaining traction and allowing you to steer out of the way of obstacles. ABS has all of these many benefits however many car owners prefer braking without ABS.