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.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk