Active safety systems are becoming increasingly common in today's vehicles. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems were introduced during the end of the 1990s, and accident statistics show that they have had a huge impact on traffic safety. The objective of this study was to suggest a (prototype) test method that can be used for holistic evaluation of the safety effect of ESC in cars, including the driver behaviour perspective. From discussions with leading experts on traffic safety and ESC, possible benefits from ESC systems on traffic safety were identified. In addition to increasing the yaw stability of the vehicle, the following ESC benefit effects were identified: A warning system for slippery roads; Reduced collision speed; Improved vehicle roll stability. Test methods for each benefit mentioned above were proposed and research on the driver behaviour aspect of ESC was initiated by a focus group study. These early results suggest that drivers do not rely on the support systems of the car, but drive according to road and traffic conditions, as well as their own perceived skill. As a test of yaw stability performance, a manoeuvre conducted with a steeringrobot, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Sine with Dwell, was considered to be better than a test involving human test drivers. This manoeuvre has been specified in detail by NHTSA, but further research is needed regarding the choice of test surface and the influence of tyres. Future studies based on the findings in the report were proposed, involving a study of the aspects of driving behaviour with ESC in a more quantitative way using a driving simulator. In addition, two field tests, one performed on dry asphalt and one on ice/snow-surface, incorporating a small number of vehicles and a range of different tyres were suggested for finalizing the yaw stability performance test. (Author/publisher)
Abstract