If electronic stability control or ESC is standardized in all current vehicles, one-third of all fatal crashes or close to 10,000 deaths can be prevented in one year. This is a significant percentage of the nearly 34,000 crash-related deaths that happen every year here in the U.S. According to the study, vehicles that are equipped with ESC are 43% less likely to be involved in fatal crashes. This new study further underscores the importance of ESC in vehicle safety.

How does a ESC help keep a vehicle safe in crash situations?

ESC relies on two other underlying technologies: anti-lock brakes and electronic traction control. Anti-lock brakes use sensors to detect when a car’s wheels are about to lose traction under hard braking. The system then pumps the brakes at an extremely rapid rate, allowing the wheels to regain traction so that the car stays in control and can be steered effectively.

Electronic traction control uses similar sensors to detect when a car’s wheels are spinning out of control under hard acceleration. The system automatically reduces power from the engine until the wheels regain traction.

ESC uses a variety of sensors to detect when a car is skidding, or is about to skid, because of hard cornering and slippery road conditions. The system will rapidly apply the brakes for fractions of a second at individual wheels and simultaneously reduce engine speed to keep the vehicle under control. Such systems can often react even before the driver is aware that there is a problem.

— CNN Money

Now, if only everyone can avail of ESC. Right now, only 40% of current passenger vehicle models offer ESC as a standard feature. It is also offered as an option in 15% of new vehicles. To make matters even worse, ESC costs quite a lot, ranging from $300 to $800 as a stand alone option. In some vehicles, it is bundled with a more expensive options package. Because ESC is no offered as a standard feature, most car buyers are not aware of it and usually don’t ask about it.

Now, more automakers are moving towards the standardization of ESC in their vehicles. GMC has signified that all its vehicles will be ESC-equipped by 2010. Ford Motor Corp. has also announced that it is ‘moving towards standardization’ of ESC. Chrysler SUVS including Jeep and Dodge vehicles will have standard ESC as early as the end of this year while all Hyundai vehicles now offer ESC technology.

The government has started to require ESC on all vehicle models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to impose a proposed emergency handling test that will effectively require all automakers to make ESC standard on all their vehicles.