Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Prevents SUV Rollovers

Automotive safety has taken center stage, especially as SUVs have made headlines for their tendency to rollover. For today's consumers, however, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can make the difference. ESC can significantly reduce the risk of an SUV rollover.

What Is Electronic Stability Control?

ESC is an active safety system that uses sensors to detect when a driver is about to lose control of the vehicle and automatically intervenes to provide stability and help the driver stay on the intended course, especially in oversteering and understeering situations. Industry experts have hailed Electronic Stability Control as a milestone in automotive safety, comparing it to seatbelts and airbags. ESC keeps vehicles on the road, helps prevent rollovers and skids, and is thus the easy safety choice for consumers when purchasing a new vehicle.

A number of studies have been conducted testing the effectiveness of ESC, and the global auto safety research verifies that Electronic Stability Control does, in fact, save lives. Five different studies projected a 30-35% reduction in single vehicle crashes thanks to ESC.

How ESC Works

It incorporates anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control (TCS), which prevent wheel lock when braking and wheel spin when accelerating, and goes a step beyond both systems, acting when lateral forces are at work to further reduce the risk of skidding in all driving situations.

More simply put... ESC constantly compares the driver’s intention with the vehicle’s actual behavior by monitoring:

• Wheel speeds
• Steering wheel angle
• Yaw-rate
• Lateral acceleration
• Throttle position
• Master cylinder pressure

A central microcomputer analyzes the incoming data. When instability is detected, ESC immediately triggers a response to keep the vehicle on course, automatically braking any of the four wheels and/or adjusting engine torque.

How To Get Electronic Stability Control On Your Next Vehicle

ESC is offered as optional or standard equipment in a wide variety of vehicles from nearly every automaker. It is a safety feature that goes by many names:

• Electronic Stability Program – ESP (Audi, Mercedes, Saab, VW)
• Dynamic Stability Control – DSC (BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar)
• StabiliTrak (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac)
• AdvanceTrac (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury)
• Vehicle Dynamics Control – VDC (Subaru, Nissan, Infiniti)
• Vehicle Stability/Skid Control – VSC (Toyota, Lexus)
• Vehicle Stability Assist – VSA (Acura)
• Precision Control System (Oldsmobile)
• Dynamic Stability Traction Control – DSTC (Volvo)
• Stability Management System (Porsche)
• Active Handling (Chevrolet Corvette)

Despite the proven effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control, only 6% of all vehicles manufactured in the U.S. are equipped with it, compared to more than 30% in Europe.

The next time you're in the market for a new vehicle, be sure to request ESC!

^{For More Information
To learn more, or to check out the numerous studies regarding the effectiveness of ESC, visit the ESC Coalition's web site: http://www.esccoalition.com/. Formed in 2003, the ESC Coalition was established to inform consumers and other key audiences about the benefits of ESC systems. It is a joint effort of two of the largest automotive technology suppliers, Robert Bosch Corporation and Continental Teves. As leaders in the development and manufacture of automotive safety technology, both companies are working together to increase the general awareness of this potentially life saving technology.}