ABS isn't going to kill you.
I don't have much of an ax to grind in this argument. I avoid ABS because of the complexity that it adds, specifically because I tend to drive very old, very cheap vehicles, and these almost always require all brake lines and some hoses to be replaced as step one. The last thing I want is to also be replacing expensive sensors and modulators.
But, it seems that at least some studies do report persistent, statistically significant issues with ABS vs. non ABS equipped vehicles.
For example, trom this study:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811182 Fatal run-off-road crashes increase with ABS by a statistically significant 9 percent in
cars (confidence bounds: 3% to 15% increase).
On wet, snowy, or icy roads, where ABS is most likely to activate, the increase in fatal
run-off-road crashes is a statistically significant 34 percent in passenger cars (confidence
bounds: 20% to 50% increase). On these roads, all three types of fatal run-off-road
crashes increase significantly for cars and so do fatal rollovers of LTVs.
Side impacts with fixed objects generally increase even more with ABS than other types
of run-off-road crashes (except for LTV fatalities). Fatal and nonfatal crashes both
increase significantly for passenger cars.
The statistical analyses continue to show persistent, significant increases in run-off-road
crashes with ABS, especially on wet roads.Data from cars is much more readily available, than data from motorcycles. I would admit that the vehicles are different, but the principles of the systems, and the system failure modes are shared. This data from cars is relevant to the issue of whether ABS can injure as well as protect. So, although generally it's agreed that ABS does reduce fatalities over all, it does seem like ABS CAN kill you, and has perhaps already killed people.
Here's a story where an owner claimed that malfunctioning ABS led his daughter to go off the road and hit a tree:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1998/04-24/0035_car_forum__anti-lock_brakes_causi.htmlHere's a story where a sheriffs deputy rear ended vehicles repeatedly at stops, allegedly due to a malfunctioning ABS system:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1995/05-05/336080_car_care__antilock_brakes.htmlAnd another law enforcement officer, going off the road and hitting a tree, again allegedly due to malfunctioning ABS, and mention of another officer who actually DID die, perhaps due to malfunctioning ABS brakes:
https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1991/10-21/236456_photo_by_general_motors_mysteri.htmlMaybe these studies and accounts are old and the technology has been perfected since? I am not an expert in this, but it seems like there is more than one side to the story, based on the literature.
There's more than one law firm in my country, that is making bank by prosecuting manufacturers when people have accidents that MAY have resulted from ABS system failure.
https://www.levininjuryfirm.com/abs-failures-can-lead-serious-accidents/ What a crummy way to get rich!