1996 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 115

The Braking System The ABS is always "On". It requires no special effort or driving technique. You will feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when the ABS activates. Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very hard before you feel the pedal pulsation that means the ABS has activated. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice. Under all conditions, the ABS is helping to prevent the wheels from locking so you can retain steering control. You should continue to press on the brake pedal with the same force. A car with ABS may require a longer distance to stop on loose or uneven surfaces than an equivalent car without Anti-lock. The ABS cannot make up for road conditions or bad judgment. It is still your responsibility to drive at reasonable speeds for weather and traffic conditions, and to leave a margin of safety. For a technical description of the ABS hardware, refer to page 206. ABS INDICATOR* * U.S. indicator shown The ABS is self-checking. If anything goes wrong, the ABS indicator on the instrument panel comes on (see page 35). This means the Anti-lock function of the braking system has shut down. The brakes still work like a conventional system, providing normal stopping ability. You should have the dealer inspect your car as soon as possible. Driving