Guide to crash avoidance system

Electronic stability control (ESC) is a crash-prevention system. It intervenes to help drivers retain control if the vehicle loses traction. Some marques have different names, such as automatic stability control, dynamic stability control, electronic stability programme, vehicle dynamic control and vehicle skid control. ESC integrates information from sensors to determine and correct for differences between a car’s intended path and its actual path. There are speed sensors in each wheel, a yaw sensor that detects direction of movement and a steering-wheel sensor detects driver input. If the system determines the vehicle isn’t following the driver’s intended path – for example, by skidding out of control – it can independently control the braking of each wheel and usually use the engine torque to pull it back on-line. There are limits to what it can achieve, but ESC is effective in allowing a driver to regain control during an emergency. What are ESC’s safety benefits? Research indicates ESC can reduce loss-of-control accidents by 20-30 per cent and the potential reduction is even greater for SUVs. Euro NCAP and ANCAP require it to be fitted as standard for a model to be eligible for a five-star rating. What difference will mandating it here make? The increase in ESC fitment over the next two decades is expected to prevent 432 deaths and 1,992 serious injuries, including 22 deaths and 102 serious injuries prevented as a direct result of the proposal to mandate. How does ESC fit in with road-safety policies? Safer Journeys – New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2010-20 adopts a safe-system approach. Its goal is a safe road system increasingly free of death and serious injury. For vehicles, this entails a forgiving fleet that helps to reduce or avoid errors, aid recovery from mistakes and absorb crash forces. ESC assists drivers to avoid and recover from mistakes. How can you tell if a vehicle has ESC? Vehicles with it fitted have an indicator light on the dashboard and often a switch to temporarily disable or reduce the system’s influence. This may be useful if a car is stuck in mud or snow. Is ESC mandatory in other countries? The US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the European Union have introduced mandatory ESC for new light passenger vehicles and – in most cases – light commercials. For more information on ESC, visit www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/land/electronic-stability-control/