More ESC could save 4,000 lives a year - NCAP

European safety organisation Euro NCAP is reiterating its calls for manufacturers to introduce Electronic Stability Controls (ESC) to new cars in Europe as standard.

NCAP's Europe-wide survey reveals that there are significant differences between countries and size segments of vehicles on the standard fitment of ESC.

The European Commission has proposed that ESC should be mandatory on all new vehicles from 2014, but Euro NCAP is calling for its immediate introduction at no extra cost to the consumer.

Euro NCAP is concerned that customers are deterred from fitting the technology when it's an optional extra, and believes that ESC as standard would prevent 4,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries every year.

Euro NCAP’s survey reveals that some manufacturers such as Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, and Mitsubishi, are showing an increase in the percentage of ESC fitted as standard on their vehicles.

However, NCAP calls the lack of progress from Vauxhall/Opel 'disappointing', while Kia has 'failed to keep pace on ESC', effectively lowering the average standard ESC fitment over its vehicle range.

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says “The new results are encouraging but disappointing at the same time. Considering that ESC is the most effective safety device since the seat belt, no car buyer should have to bargain over it. A greater effort to make ESC fitment standard across the board is required.”

In the survey, Euro NCAP again finds that executive cars have a high level of standard fitment in all countries, whilst superminis still have a much lower level. ESC is more likely to be fitted to expensive, premium brands than to cheaper models. 

However, there are also clear differences in ESC fitment rates between makes and models within the same price range. It is clear that some manufacturers need to take action to overcome this anomaly.

The survey also finds that some cars are sold with ESC as standard equipment on all variants in some countries while it is completely unavailable to those buying cars in other Member States.

Of these cars, ESC is still most often unavailable in Ireland, Malta and Greece, whereas it is most often fitted as standard in Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

According to the NCAP survey BMW, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes, Smart and Volvo offer ESC as standard across their entire ranges. Chevrolet does not offer the programme as standard on any models.

The full survey results can be seen here: Euro NCAP ESC survey results.

Industry reaction

ACEA, which represents car manufacturer in Europe, welcomes the increased take-up of ESC across manufacturers, but stressed that other safety aids and individual circumstances also had a significant bearing on the outcome of accidents.

“ESC is an application that offers important additional safety benefits and it is extremely important that consumers understand fully how this technology can support them”, said secretary general Ivan Hodac of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association ACEA.

ACEA also stressed the long development times for new cars, which make it difficult to make significant changes to models once they are in the development and production cycles.

What is ESC?

Electronic Stability Control - sometime known as Electronic Stability Programme - recognises when a skid is starting to happen and applies the brakes at individual wheels, helping to keep the car under control before the skid develops. 

The system reacts much more quickly than even the best driver and can apply the brakes to individual wheels, which a driver cannot.  Whether the skid is the result of an emergency avoidance manoeuvre or a simple error of judgement, ESC can help a driver maintain control of his vehicle.

See our Jargon section for more details.

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