2001 VOLVO S40 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY CARS BRAKING DISTANCE. IT SEEMS TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. TODAY I WAS IN A MINOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELLING UNDER 15MPH WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES (THE CAR INFRONT OF HER STOPPED SHORT). THOUGH IT WAS NOT GOOD THAT SHE HAD TO STOP SO ABRUPTLY, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING HER BUMBPER. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE SPEED AND SAFE DISTANCE. THIS MINOR ACCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING MY CAR BACK AND IT'S ABILITY TO STOP AT A PROPER DISTANCE. THE OTHER CAR SUSTAINED VERY MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING REGARDING MY VOLVO S40 MODEL (NEW IN THE US) OR JUST MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THIS IS MY 4TH VOLVO AND I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAEKS THAT STOPPED IN SUCH A LONG DISTANCE. THANKFULLY THE ACCIDENT WAS MINOR, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKING NEXT TIME I GET CUT-OFF AND HOW MY VEHICLE WILL RESPOND. COULD YOU POSSIBLY SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.*AK