Electronic Stability Control (ESC) by Glen Nicholson

Electronic Stability Control(ESC)

by Glen Nicholson

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young people of every age from 2-33.

World Health Organization

“More than one million people die and 2 million are injured in traffic crashes worldwide and the global annual economic cost of road crashes is nearly $600 billion.”

Nicole Nason, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Dr. David BoweringChief Medical Health OfficerNorthern HealthCrossroads Report - 2005

In Canada “the economic and social consequences of road crashes are estimated to be $25 billion a year.”

“The road transport system and its stakeholders have...unintentionally generated one of the largest health catastrophes ever seen in the history of mankind.”

Dr. Claes TingvallChairman, European New Car Assessment ProgramDirector, Swedish Road Administration

“Motor vehicle crashes…eat up more than 20% of Northern Health’s total direct health care costs.”

Dr. David BoweringChief Medical Health OfficerNorthern HealthCrossroads Report - 2005

PASSIVE SAFETY DEVICES ...help you survive crashes:

• Seat Belts• Head Restraints• Air Bags• Collapsible Steering Columns• Reinforced Passenger Cell

The best crash…

...is one that never happens.

ACTIVE SAFETY DEVICES ...help you avoid crashing:

• Winter Tires• High Intensity Lights• Anti-Lock Braking Systems (“ABS”)• Electronic Stability Control (“ESC”)

ESC is a computerized vehicle system that improves vehicle handling by instantly detecting and preventing skids.

When ESC detects skidding, it automatically brakes individual wheels to counterundersteer or oversteer…

…in 1/25th of a second!

ESC PREVENTS

• 40% of single vehicle crashes

• 43% of all crash fatalities

• 56% of single vehicle fatalities

• 80% of rollover fatalities

Insurance Institute of Highway Safety - 2006

ESC saves lives

FATALITIES BC CANADA

2005 Fatalities 460 2923

ESC could save 197 1256

ESC could save 43%

*ESC could prevent 43% of 2923 fatalities

SAFETY DEVICES LIVES SAVED

Seatbelts 1,457

ESC 1,256*

Side Door Beams 994

Steering Columns 266

Front Air Bags 247

Manufacturer - $111Retail - from $450

ESC Cost

ESC is optional or standardon over half of new vehicle models sold in Canada

*2006

Common Names of ESC

Generic - Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

• Electronic Stability Program (ESP) - Audi, VW, Saab, Daimler, Chrysler• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) - Toyota, Lexus• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) - Honda, Acura• Advance Trac - Ford, Lincoln• StabiliTrak - General Motors, Saturn• Vehicle Dynamic(s) Control (VDC) - Subaru, Nissan• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) - Mazda, BMW, Rover• Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) - Volvo

Canadian awareness of ESC

• 60% had never heard of ESC.

• Only 5% owned vehicles with ESC.

• Only 1 % mentioned ESC as a safety feature.

Rudin-Brown Survey - 2006

New vehicle purchases of ESC

Sweden 93%

Germany 78%

Denmark 78%

Australia 48%

United Kingdom 47%

United States 46%

Canada 37%

ESC Studies• Transport Canada• Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (US)• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US)• Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (US)• University of Iowa (US) • University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (US) • Transport Research Foundation (UK)• Monash University (Australia and New Zealand)• University of Cologne Institute for Transport Economics (Germany)• GDV Institute for Vehicle Safety (German Insurers)• Swedish National Road Administration (Sweden)• Institute of Transport Economics (Norway)• Laboratoire d'Accidentologie, de Biomécanique (France)• Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan)• …and many others

ESC Endorsements• Transport Canada• Canadian Automobile Association• BC Automobile Association• Canada Safety Council• Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals• BC Forest Safety Council - Trucksafe• BC Safety Council• RoadHealth• Insurance Corporation of BC• BC Wildlife Collision Prevention Program• United Nations• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US)• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (US)• Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (Europe)• Swedish National Road Administration• UK Department of Transport• Australian New Car Assessment Program• Consumers Union (US)• …and many others

ESC Websites

• Choose ESC• Transport Canada• Canadian Automobile Association• Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals• BC Automobile Association• BC Safety Council• Wildlife Collision Prevention Program• Insurance Corporation of BC• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety• Wikipedia

ESC Laws

• Quebec (2006) - dangerous goods carriers • United States (2009-2012) - all passengers vehicles

• United Nations Global Technical Regulations (2008)

• Victoria, Australia (2010) proposed - all cars

• Canada (2012) proposed - all cars

“Each new car that is sold without ESC is a lost opportunity to save lives and reduce suffering.”

Viviane RedingCommissioner, European Commission

• Vehicles - dangerous health hazard

• ESC - extraordinarily cost-effective solution

• ESC must be promoted:• Awareness• Incentives• Law

www.chooseesc.eu

stability@telus.net