Originally Posted by spiitz
Unfortunately this is not true about the breaking. You absolutely can steer and break at the same time with rear wheel drive cars. ABS makes it even more apt to steer correctly, while the traction control will continue to establish grip. downshifting will not help slow down in snow or ice though, it can create a more volatile situation that can cause loss of control. The safest way to drive is to rely on the ABS to slow you down and the ESP to keep grip. All you need to do in snow is drive slow, think ahead when breaking and accelerate as slow as possible.
You are right. It still amazes me how many people still do not have an under standing about an ABS system, even after how many years of cars with ABS. There are also those that will still pump the brake pedal on a car with ABS.
One other trick that I have found that will help when trying to stop on ice, especially when moving slowly at say a stop sign, is to put the tranny in neutral. This will immediately take the power off of the wheels.