(August 28, 2011) DETROIT — Electronic stability control systems like StabiliTrak are already proving to help prevent crashes. The 2012 Cadillac SRX wrings a new benefit from the system — removing water from brake components during wet highway driving conditions.

Drivers can feel more in control in soggy conditions because Auto Dry Brakes can help to improve overall brake effectiveness during rainy conditions on the highway.

Why does this technology matter? The U.S. Department of Transportation says 620,000 crashes on the nation’s roadways in 2009 — one in 10 — occurred in the rain.

“The important thing is to assure the brakes are as dry as possible before the driver applies the brake pedal,” said Randy Leek, a General Motors brake development engineer. “We designed this feature to ensure that the brakes provide optimal braking performance while driving in inclement weather.”

Auto Dry Brakes work with the SRX RainSense automatic windshield wiper system, or when the standard windshield wipers are operating, and the SRX has been traveling over 20 mph continuously for more than four miles without using the cruise control. A slight amount of hydraulic pressure is generated by the StabiliTrak hardware, which pulses pressure to the vehicle’s brake calipers at intervals to wipe water from the brake rotors while the car is moving.

With drier rotors, when the driver does apply the brakes, the brake system operates more effectively, giving a more-assured stopping feel and better brake effectiveness in wet conditions.

Auto Dry Brakes are designed to apply pressure to all four of the SRX’s disc brakes at roughly six kilometer intervals, while the accelerator is applied. The system works seamlessly with StabiliTrak, anti-lock brakes and traction control without the driver knowing anything is happening.