European experts estimate that up to 40 per cent of single vehicle crashes could be avoided if all cars had ESC
What Is ESC?
According to wikipedia,
“Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help “steer” the vehicle where the driver intends to go. Braking is automatically applied to individual wheel, such as the outer front wheel to counter oversteer or the inner rear wheel to counter understeer. Some ESC systems also reduce engine power until control is regained. ESC does not improve a vehicle’s cornering performance, it rather helps minimize the loss of control. According to IIHS and NHTSA, one-third of fatal accidents could have been prevented by the technology
To give you a first hand look at what exactly this does, check out this very good video on youtbe on ESC.
As you can see from the video, ESC would prevent many accidents and car crashes. I think this is something that should be manditory in cars today.
However, the most frightening thing about ESC, is the fact that hardly anyone knows about it and its benefits. I think that it is important that people are made aware of its benefits.
My uncle, Glen Nicholson, is actually a very strong advocate for ESC, and has been urging the government to make it manditory in all new vehicles. Here is an article featuring him in the news. http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/10/30/esc-canada.html
This leaves me with two questions for you:
Did you know what ESC was before reading this blog?
Would you pay the extra money to get ESC in your vehicle?