ON MY 2008 PRIUS I APPLIED THE BRAKES OVER ANYTHING OTHER THAN PERFECTLY SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR STOPS ALL BRAKING FORCE MOMENTARILY FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND OR SO. WHILE THIS IS USUALLY JUST AN ANNOYANCE I WAS DRIVING ON THE WASHINGTON CAPITAL BELTWAY I-495 EAST NEAR THE ROUTE 50 THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I LOOKED AWAY BRIEFLY THEN HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES DID NOT APPLY PRESSURE CONSISTENTLY CAUSING MY CAR TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF A LARGER TRUCK WHICH SHOULD HAVE A FAR GREATER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN MY PRIUS. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRAKE IN TIME. *TR