That's correct. The ABS basically takes away the brake pressure as soon as the wheels block. On most surfaces this will shorten your stopping distance versus a human blocking the tires. It is never the optimal stopping distance though.
In terms of split second reactions, it's pretty much optimal still to just jam the brakes if you have ABS. It's much better than braking too little, which is what most non-ABS drivers would have done.
In terms of split second reactions, it's pretty much optimal still to just jam the brakes if you have ABS. It's much better than braking too little, which is what most non-ABS drivers would have done.