The Electronic Stability Control Coalition today announced that the availability of electronic stability control (ESC) increased in model year 2004, as vehicle manufacturers either made the automotive safety feature standard or expanded its availability.
"This news bodes well for consumers looking to buy a safer vehicle and represents an important step toward reducing the number of crashes on America's roads," said Jim Gill, Chairman of the ESC Coalition. "While we are encouraged by the increasing availability of ESC, actual installation rates indicate that consumers still need to be made aware of the feature so they know to ask for it when purchasing their next new vehicle."
ESC is a revolutionary active safety technology that uses advances in microelectronics to help drivers maintain control of their vehicle and prevent crashes before they occur. The system detects when a driver is about to lose control of a vehicle and automatically intervenes to provide stability and help the driver stay on course.
International research has shown that ESC could help prevent 15 percent of all crashes and 30 to 35 percent of single-vehicle crashes. Based on these findings, the widespread installation of ESC in the United States could potentially save between 5,000-6,000 lives and $35 billion in economic losses annually.
Model-year 2004 vehicles offering ESC for the first time are:
- Acura TSX
- Cadillac SRX
- Cadillac XLR
- Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
- Chevrolet Express 3500
- Chrysler Concorde
- Chrysler Crossfire
- Mazda RX-8
- Mitsubishi Endeavor
- Nissan Maxima
- Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
- Volkswagen Touareg
"As highway fatalities have reached a decade-high, consumers need to know how to better protect themselves on the road," said Rich Golitko, Vice Chairman of the ESC Coalition. "Electronic stability control is the easy safety choice. Anyone looking to buy a new vehicle should consider it an essential feature. Additionally, when shopping for a new car, consumers interested in ESC need to work with their dealer to ensure the specific trim line they are considering includes this safety technology."
The ESC Coalition was established in 2003 to inform consumers and other key audiences about the benefits of ESC systems. It is a joint effort of two of the largest automotive technology suppliers, Robert Bosch Corporation and Continental Teves. As leaders in the development and manufacture of ESC systems, both companies are working together to increase the general awareness of this potentially life saving technology.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Coalition was formed in 2003 with the mission of educating consumers and other key audiences about the revolutionary active safety technology known as ESC. The ESC Coalition members believe that the widespread installation of ESC systems can play a significant role in helping to prevent crashes on America's roads. The Coalition seeks to increase the public's general awareness of this milestone in automotive safety. Through a national education campaign, the ESC Coalition aims to provide consumers with comprehensive information on ESC, including educational materials, technical data, video demonstrations, industry studies, and news about ESC.