I received an email from a concerned reader who was having a problem with his ABS (antilock braking system). He read that even if your ABS malfunctions or goes dead, you'll still have a normal level of braking to work with. This is usually the case, but in this reader's situation there was something more serious wrong with his brakes. They malfunctioned again and he caused a rear end collision (nobody was hurt, thankfully).

Hearing this story brought to mind one of the most important things to remember when it comes to auto safety: It's up to you to decide when something's wrong! Nobody knows your car better than you. If something seems funny, look into it. If it seems dangerous, don't take the chance of something terrible happening. Look into the problem or get a pro to diagnose the situation. It's just not worth an accident to just "see how it goes." This is especially true when you're talking about something vital to your driving safety like brakes or steering. Reading up is always a good idea when you're trying to figure out an automotive issue, but if things seem fishy, go with your gut. Just because you read that a situation is ok, don't take it as gospel. If you step on the brake pedal and nothing happens, it's you (or worse, a loved one) behind the wheel, not some guy writing an article about ABS brakes.

This may seem like common sense, but it's worth taking a second to make a mental note. And it's one more good reason to empower yourself with auto repair and maintenance knowledge!