June 2006 - IIHS Research Finds Significant Crash Reduction with Electronic Stability Control

An extension of antilock brake technology, electronic stability control (ESC), is designed to help drivers retain control of their vehicles during high-speed maneuvers or on slippery roads. Since ESC is relatively new, it is only in the last few years that researchers have had sufficient data to analyze its effects on real-world crashes. Previous research found significant effects of ESC in reducing the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted in 2004 found that ESC reduces the risk of fatal multiple-vehicle crashes by 32 percent.

Using data from an additional year of crashes and a larger set of vehicle models, 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 IIHS estimates that if all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as many as 10,000 of the 34,000 fatal passenger vehicle crashes could be avoided each year. "The findings indicate that ESC should be standard on all vehicles," says Susan Ferguson, IIHS senior vice president for research. She added, "Very few safety technologies show this kind of large effect in reducing crash deaths."

ESC uses speed sensors on each wheel and the ability to brake individual wheels that are the basis of antilock brakes. ESC adds a steering angle sensor, a vehicle rotation rate sensor that measures rotation around the vehicle’s vertical axis, and a control unit. The control unit monitors when the steering and rotation sensors detect that the vehicle is not pointed in the direction that is indicated by the steering wheel position. Then ESC automatically brakes the appropriate wheel to help the driver maintain control. In many cases, engine throttle also is reduced. When a driver makes a sudden emergency maneuver or, for example, enters a curve too fast, the vehicle may spin out of control. ESC's automatic braking would be applied and, in some cases, throttle reduced to help keep the vehicle under control.

While both cars and sport utility vehicles (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 was not significantly different for SUVs (59 percent) than for cars (53 percent).

In addition, 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 and 77 percent for cars.

To view the complete news release, click on the following link: www.iihs.org/news/2006/iihs_news_061306.pdf.

COPYRIGHT ©2005, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.