Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hailed as the most important safety device since the seat-belt, is still being largely overlooked by the automotive industry, according to new surveys by the FIA Foundation and the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP).
An FIA Foundation survey of ESC in-car sales shows that just 18 per cent of car dealerships actively provide information or promote ESC and only one in seven salespeople focus on safety as an important vehicle feature compared with the look and price of the cars.
A EuroNCAP survey reveals that whilst some manufacturers have made efforts to improve ESC availability, on many vehicles this life-saving technology is still offered as optional rather than as standard.
Max Mosley, FIA President, said:
“ESC would make a huge contribution to preventing deaths and injuries on our roads but not enough consumers are aware of its benefits. The European Commission has backed our campaign to make ESC mandatory in 2012 but we need the automotive industry to show more commitment to these safety technologies to prevent increasing loss of life on our roads.”
The results of both surveys have been released in full today at the inaugural Choose ESC! Symposium in Brussels.
Euro NCAP’s Michiel Van Ratingen said:
“Given ESC’s life saving potential Euro NCAP believes there is no reason why ESC should not be fitted as standard on all vehicles and offered to consumers in all countries. Why should only a minority of consumers benefit from this safety technology that has been around for over ten years? Some manufacturers are showing they prioritise safety, but for others ESC is another business decision. Together we must do all we can to raise awareness of ESC’s importance.”
European Commissioner Viviane Reding said:
“The European Commission has proposed to make ESC mandatory from 2012 but that does not mean that we can stop our promotion of safety technologies. We know that thousands of lives can be saved through our campaigning and training activities for safety technologies like ESC. We are obliged to tell the citizens that they should look for safety when they buy a new car as it might save their life one day.”
In April 2007, the FIA called for ESC to become a standard feature on all new passenger cars by 2012. The Choose ESC! campaign was launched by the FIA and FIA Foundation soon afterwards at a high-level event in Rome.
In May 2008, the European Commission backed the campaign and confirmed new proposals for the mandatory introduction of ESC on all new cars sold in the EU from 2012. The new policy could prevent 4,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries a year on Europe’s roads, where less than half of the cars currently sold are fitted with this crucial crash-avoidance technology.
The Choose ESC! campaign has helped to increase public awareness on the importance of ESC and its low take-up across Europe, especially compared to the US. The motor sport community has also helped to promote the campaign with support from major motor racing stars such as FIA World Champions Michael Schumacher and Sébastien Loeb.
ESC is an ‘intelligent’ crash avoidance technology which controls the braking system of a motor vehicle to avoid oversteer or understeer and to retain the drivers control of the vehicle. It has significant potential both to avoid crashes and reduce their consequences. A range of studies in Europe, the USA and elsewhere show that ESC can reduce passenger car single-vehicle crashes by as much as 35 per cent.
For further information:
www.chooseesc.eu
www.euroncap.com
www.fiafoundation.com