Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control systems in Great Britain. On behalf of The Department for Transport.

Author(s)
Frampton, R. & Thomas, P.
Year
Abstract

This report has evaluated the reduction in crash involvement of cars equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems. The evaluation has been conducted for all crashes as well as for a variety of road and loss of control conditions. In addition, a study of ESC benefits in terms of crash costs and accidents prevented has been undertaken. The results show that ESC effectiveness is 7% in crashes of all severity. Serious crashes are 11% lower compared to non ESC cars and fatalities 25% lower. The potential savings in accident costs for a 100% take up of ESC amounts to some 959 million pounds by preventing some 7800 crashes. Even at a 50% take up the saving amounts to some 480 million pounds. ESC appears to offer additional benefit in adverse road conditions. Overall effectiveness was estimated as 20% for icy conditions and 9% for wet conditions compared to 5% for dry roads. In terms of serious crashes however, ESC effectiveness appears even more pronounced, 22% for wet roads compared to 3% for dry. Skidding and overturning crashes are typical situations on bends when the driver enters too quickly and attempts to steer. The study suggests a high ESC effectiveness 23% in all skidding related crashes and 36% in all overturning crashes. The corresponding values for serious crashes are 33% and 59% respectively. There appears to be little difference in effectiveness depending on whether a male of female is driving but effectiveness is serious side crashes is much higher (22%) compared to that in serious frontal crashes (2%). Single vehicle crashes are those where ESC is often supposed to have the greatest effect. Compared to non-ESC cars, 27% fewer ESC vehicles were involved in all single vehicle crashes compared to 7% for multi and single vehicle crashes taken together. Unfortunately case numbers did not allow a reliable assessment of ESC contribution to the reduction in serious single vehicle crashes. Overall, ESC has shown worthwhile reductions in both accident frequency and cost across a wide variety of crash situations. (Author/publisher)

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Publication

Library number
C 39901 [electronic version only]
Source

Loughborough, Loughborough University, Vehicle Safety Research Centre (VSRC), 2007, 36 p., 15 ref.; PPAD 9/33/99 (C)

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