Pressure to build an electronic safety net into all cars from new is building.
The RAC Foundation said recently that road crashes could be reduced by more than 20 per cent, especially in wet or icy conditions, by if all cars were fitted with Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
So the FIA has initiated a Europe-wide campaign. The ‘Choose ESC!’ campaign will be launched at the Bridgestone European Testing ground near Rome on 8 May 2007. The campaign, lead by the FIA Foundation, under the patronage of European Commissioner Viviane Reding and FIA President Max Mosley, aims to raise awareness of ESC and increase the take-up of the technology.
The Rome launch will feature the release by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) of an EU wide ESC availability survey. The event will also include live demonstrations comparing the performance of a car with and without the system engaged.
ESC should feature high on the shopping list of priorities when choosing a new car, according to the RAC Foundation. While the Euro NCAP testing results have traditionally concentrated on highlighting to consumers the cars which offer the greatest protection in an accident – the Foundation said it wants to alert drivers to developments in technology which can help to prevent a collision.
The Foundation said that it recommends that motorists ensure their next car is fitted with a stability control system. Available from most manufacturers, these systems reduce the chances of being involved in an accident by helping drivers to maintain vehicle control. If a driver has misjudged a corner or suddenly swerves to avoid an obstacle, stability control can help avoid a skid and can turn an accident into a near miss.
Stability control evolved from other technologies such as traction control and anti-lock brakes. This technology, along with some additional sensors, feeds information to a computerised control unit. The signals are continuously monitored to determine whether or not the vehicle is losing control. If a deviation from the intended course is detected, the control unit applies a small amount of braking to whichever wheel is needed to help stabilise the course of the vehicle. Some systems also adjust the power output of the engine to help further.
This is all done by the control unit which reacts faster than even the best driver could manage. Some drivers won't know that the system has intervened.
According to the Foundation, studies have shown that cars fitted with Stability Control are less involved in certain types of accidents than those without. In Sweden, an overall reduction of 22 per cent has been detected, rising to 32 per cent in wet conditions, and a study in Japan has suggested a decrease in accident involvement of some 30 to 35 per cent. Studies in the USA and Germany have shown similar results, said the organisation.
Others however argue that such systems reduce the need for drivers to improve their driving skills, and that the ability to concentrate and react to skids should be encouraged.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "The safest car on the road is the one which does not get involved in accidents. Driving carefully and attentively is perhaps the best way to reduce the chances of being in a crash but technology can play an important role, too. That is why advice is being extended to cover developments in technology, such as ESC, which will help protect drivers and their passengers."
Mosley said: "There is no doubt that ESC could contribute significantly to the European Union’s goal to halve the number of road traffic fatalities by 2010. But to achieve this, much more needs to be done to inform the consumer about why they must choose ESC when buying a new car."
Reding said: "The European Commission fully supports the ‘Choose ESC!’ Campaign as we want to reach the consumers with this campaign. I believe more and more drivers will make the intelligent choice and choose ESC, making the roads in Europe safer for everyone."