Department for Transport
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ESC technology could cut road deaths by up to a quarter

ESC technology could cut road deaths by up to a quarter

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (066) issued by The Government News Network on 18 June 2007

New research, published today, has found vehicles equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) are 25% less likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those without it. If every vehicle on the road were fitted with ESC, this would equate to approximately 380 fewer fatal accidents each year.

The research, released today at the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles Conference, concluded that ESC was especially effective in helping to prevent crashes that involved a vehicle skidding or overturning, with the potential to reduce serious accidents like this by up to 59%. As well as this, it concluded that ESC could offer additional benefits in adverse road conditions such as wet or snowy weather.

Road Safety Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman said:

"Today's research proves what a powerful tool ESC could be in saving lives. I urge anyone thinking of buying a new car to consider the safety benefits that ESC could bring. Ask the vendor if it comes as standard and, if not, investigate whether it could be fitted as an option. I also call on manufacturers to fit this important piece of kit as standard more widely - it's not expensive and has the potential to make our roads significantly safer."

ESC is a computer controlled technology which automatically controls the vehicle by comparing the driver's steering and braking actions to what is actually happening. On-board sensors measure the speed, steering wheel angle, direction of travel and lateral acceleration of the vehicle. If the calculated path of travel is different to that dictated by the sensors it will make a correction by applying individual brakes to correct the deviation.

Studies from various countries have already shown it to be very effective at reducing accidents, but this is the first study to specifically analyse UK roads.

Notes to Editors

Study Results

1. Studies from various countries have shown ESC to be very effective at reducing accidents. None, though, have been specific to UK vehicles and roads.

2. Loughborough University Vehicle Safety Research Centre (VSRC) were commissioned by DfT to carry out a statistical study of UK national injury accident data to ascertain whether there is any difference in crash involvement between passenger cars with and without ESC systems.

3. The analysis excluded accidents involving vulnerable road users (VRU) as injuries to this group dominate the severity of accidents which would otherwise be minor accidents, and ESC is unlikely to be of benefit in such accidents which are typically at relatively low speeds in urban areas.

4. A summary of the results is given below:


Accident Severity    Reduction in non-VRU
                           Accidents if ESC is fitted*
                        (%)                         (n)
      Fatal             25                          383
      Serious           11                          1102
      Slight            6                           6315
      All               7                           7800 


* assuming all vehicles are fitted with ESC, as compared with no vehicles being fitted, based on 2005 accident data.

5. This shows that ESC equipped vehicles are involved in 25% fewer fatal road accidents where a VRU was not involved, which equates to a theoretical maximum reduction of 383 fatal accidents, based on 2005 accident figures. (Relating this to the total number of accidents in 2005 would result in a 16% reduction).

6. These figures represent the reductions expected with 100% fitment compared to no fitment. However, around 10% of vehicles are already equipped and it would take many years to achieve close to 100% fitment even if ESC was to be mandated. Nonetheless, for each person who drives an ESC equipped vehicle, their risk of being involved in a fatal accident is reduced by 25%, which should be an incentive for vehicle purchasers.

7. Estimates of the effect of ESC in serious accidents according to weather conditions show that the greatest effect would be expected in situations where a loss of control might be expected, such as for wet or snowy roads (22% or 30% reduction, respectively). The research also shows a particularly high effectiveness for reducing serious accidents involving other loss of control situations such as skidding (33%), and rollover (59%).

8. Full details of the report can be found on the DFT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/safetyresearch/esc

ESC Awareness Campaign

9. The EC has joined forces with EuroNCAP and FIA and launched on 8th May a Europe-wide 'Choose ESC!' awareness campaign.

10. The UK supports this campaign and is considering how the benefits of ESC can be promoted in the UK.

11. More information about this campaign can be found at http://www.chooseesc.eu/

Implementation

12. The EC has stated that in line with the CARS 21 programme they are preparing for the obligatory installation of ESC into new passenger cars, via international harmonisation, and forecasts that all new cars will be fitted with ESC by 2012. However a technical specification is necessary before this is possible.

13. An international group of experts (incl. UK) has been set up to agree a harmonised technical specification and test method for a Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on ESC systems intended to be fitted to cars and light vans.

14. The UK fully supports the development of this GTR based on US national requirements.

15. ESC will also become a mandatory fitment on trucks, trailers and buses/coaches. Technical requirements have already been agreed at international level and an implementation plan should be finalised later this year.

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Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

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