 News Release |
The new research confirms that ESC reduces the risk of all single-vehicle
crashes by more than 40 percent — fatal ones by 56 percent. The
researchers estimate that if all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as
many as 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided each year.
"The findings indicate that ESC should be standard on all vehicles," says
Susan Ferguson, Institute senior vice president for research. "Very
few safety technologies show this kind of large effect in reducing crash
deaths."
Availability varies: ESC is standard on 40 percent
of 2006 passenger vehicle models and optional on another 15 percent.
It's standard on every 2006 Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Mercedes, and Porsche.
Another 8 vehicle makes (Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mini, Toyota,
Volkswagen, and Volvo) offer at least optional ESC on all of their models.
But ESC, standard or optional, is limited to 25 percent or fewer models
from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Hummer, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Saturn, Subaru,
and Suzuki.
After studies in 2004 by the Institute and National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, some manufacturers announced plans to make ESC
standard on all SUVs. The percentage of SUV models with standard ESC
has been growing faster than for cars.
As a stand-alone option, ESC costs from about $300 to $800, but it
can cost more than $2,000 on some models when packaged with other equipment.
A potential problem for increasing consumer awareness is that automakers
market ESC by various names including Electronic Stability Program, StabiliTrak,
or Active Handling.
"When ESC is optional, this hodgepodge of terms is bound to be
confusing," Ferguson points out. "It's good that some of the
major manufacturers have pledged to make ESC standard on their SUVs in
the next few model years, and it should be standard on cars and pickup
trucks too."
How ESC works: Antilock brakes have speed sensors and
independent braking capability. ESC adds sensors that continuously monitor
how well a vehicle is responding to a driver's steering wheel input.
These sensors can detect when a driver is about to lose control because
the vehicle is straying from the intended line of travel — a problem
that usually occurs in high-speed maneuvers or on slippery roads. In
these circumstances, ESC brakes individual wheels automatically to keep
the vehicle under control.
When a driver makes a sudden emergency maneuver or, for example, enters
a curve too fast, the vehicle may spin out of control. Then ESC's automatic
braking is applied and in some cases throttle reduced to help keep the
vehicle under control.
ESC is relatively new. Only in the last few years have researchers
had sufficient data to analyze its effects on real-world crashes. The
new Institute study is based on data from the federal Fatality Analysis
Reporting System and police reports of crashes in 10 states during 2001-04.
Researchers compared crash rates for cars and SUVs without ESC and the
same models in subsequent years when ESC was standard (note: some vehicles
with optional ESC were included in the no-ESC group because so few buyers
choose this option).
More effects of ESC on SUVs: The data in the Institute's
2004 study weren't extensive enough to allow researchers to compute separate
risk reduction estimates for cars and SUVs. However, this was possible
in the broader analysis that's just completed. While both cars and SUVs
benefit from ESC, the reduction in the risk of single-vehicle crashes
was significantly greater for SUVs — 49 percent versus 33 percent
for cars. The reduction in fatal single-vehicle crashes wasn't significantly
different for SUVs (59 percent) than for cars (53 percent).
Many single-vehicle crashes involve rolling over, and ESC effectiveness
in preventing rollovers is even more dramatic. It reduces the risk of
fatal single-vehicle rollovers of SUVs by 80 percent, 77 percent for
cars.
ESC was found to reduce the risk of all kinds of fatal crashes by 43
percent. This is more than the 34 percent reduction reported in 2004.
If all vehicles had ESC, it could prevent as many as 10,000 of the 34,000
fatal passenger vehicle crashes that occur each year.
Insurance claims show effects on collision losses: The
results of the Institute's studies showing significant reductions in
serious crash risk are reflected in some insurance losses. According
to a new analysis by the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, losses under collision coverage
are about 15 percent lower for vehicles with ESC than for predecessor
models without it. However, ESC doesn't have much effect on property
damage liability claims or the frequency of injury claims. These findings
track police-reported crashes, which show little effect of ESC on the
risk of low-severity multiple-vehicle crashes. |
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