Electronic Stability Control – ESC

How it Works
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is an extension of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). It
uses the basics of ABS, a speed sensor in each wheel, and the ability to control the brake
pressure in the calipers of each wheel individually, and combines this with a steering angle
sensor, a rotational sensor, which measures the rotation of the car about a central vertical
axis, and a control unit.

Using the data from the speed sensors, combined with the rotational sensor, the control
unit calculates the actual path which the vehicle is taking. This is compared with the
predicted path which is based upon data from the steering angle sensor. If the vehicle is
understeering, the inside rear brake is activated. If it is oversteering, the outside front
brake is activated. During this process, the engine throttle may also be reduced.

Benefits
If ESC is installed in a car, the risk of a fatal accident is decreased by 25%. The risk of
accidents in which serious injuries occur are reduced by 11%, and overall, all accidents are
reduced by 7%.

ESC is particularly effective at preventing crashes in slippery conditions, with 20% less risk
of a crash in icy conditions, 9% in wet conditions, and 5% in dry conditions.

The risk of an accident involving skidding is reduced by 23%, and that of an accident
causing serious injury is 33%.

Overturning is reduced even further, with a reduction of 36% overall, and a reduction of
59% in the number of crashes causing serious injury.

ESC has a 22% effectiveness in preventing side impacts, but only a 2% chance of
preventing frontal impacts. This disparity is due to the nature in which these types of
accident occur; side impacts most often occur when there is a loss of control, whereas
frontal impacts tend to occur when a car fails to stop. ESC does not aid a car in stopping,
but it does allow the driver to maintain control, and to regain at least partial control if it is
lost.

If 10% of cars were to be fitted with ESC, 779 crashes could be prevented every year,
saving £96 million. This saving would rise to a total of 7800 prevented crashes, whch would
save £959 million per year.

Studies of the effects of ESC show differing levels of benefit for different countries. For
instance in America, a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggested that
the risk of overturning a car would reduce by 77%. Similarly, a University of Michigan report
suggested that ESC could reduce the likelihood of non-fatal crashes on wet, snowy, or icy
roads by 75% for cars, and 88% for SUVs, along with a reduction on dry roads of 40% for
cars and 53% for SUVs.

Although different studies show different degrees of effectiveness, it remains clear that ESC
is beneficial. As such, ESC systems would be installed on future cars, because it will cause
only a modest increase in the cost of a new car, but will save many lives, and many millions
of pounds.

References
Frampton, R. and Thomas, P. “Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control Systems in Great
Britain”, Department for Transport
<http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/safetyresearch/esc>

“Electronic Stability Control”, Status Report, Vol. 41, No. 5, Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety <http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4105.pdf>

Green, P.E., and Woodrooffe, J. “The Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control on Motor
Vehicle Crash Prevention”, Rep. No. UMTRI-2006-12, University of Michigan
<http://hd1.handle.net/2027.42/39110>