Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a safety technology designed to enhance a vehicle’s stability and control in all driving situations. ESC first became available in the United States in 1997. Statistical analyses of 1997-2004 crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and 1997-2003 crash data from the State data files estimate reductions with ESC for various types of crash involvements. • ESC reduced fatal run-off-road crashes by 36 percent for passenger cars and 70 percent for light trucks and vans (LTVs). The reductions are statistically significant. • Police-reported run-off-road involvements were decreased by 45 percent in passenger cars and 72 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant. • Fatal single-vehicle crashes that did not involve pedestrians, bicycles, and animals decreased (due to ESC) by 36 percent in passenger cars and 63 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant. • ESC reduced police-reported single-vehicle crashes (excluding pedestrian, bicycle, animal crashes) by 26 percent for passenger cars and 48 percent for LTVs. The reductions are statistically significant. • Rollover involvements in fatal crashes were decreased by 70 percent in passenger cars and 88 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant. • Police-reported crashes involving rollovers were reduced by 64 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in LTVs. The reductions are statistically significant. • ESC reduced culpable fatal multi-vehicle crashes by 19 percent for passenger cars and 34 percent for LTVs. Only the reduction involving LTVs is statistically significant. • Culpable involvements in police-reported multi-vehicle crashes were decreased by 13 percent in passenger cars and 16 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant. • Overall, ESC reduced all fatal crashes by 14 percent for passenger cars and 28 percent for LTVs. Only the reduction in LTVs is statistically significant. • Overall, police-reported crash involvements decreased by 8 percent in passenger cars and 10 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting