Electronic Stability Control - Next Best Thing Since Introduction of Seat Belts?

04/22/2009 - Law Firm Blog - Link to This Entry

According to industry experts, Electronic Stability Control systems (ECS) could indeed be the next best thing since seat belts and estimate that more than 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided each year. Consumer safety awareness and technological advances can have a dramatic effect on saving lives.

Electronic stability control systems are high tech systems that help prevent rollovers and other accidents that can occur when a car skids out of control. Most consumers know about airbags and seat belts but few know about ESC and the safety benefits.

Research from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that electronic stability control systems reduce single-vehicle fatal crash risk by 51 percent and multiple-vehicle fatal crash risk by 20 percent for cars and SUVs. ECS is also great news for top heavy vehicles like SUVs, which are more prone to rollover. This technology reduces the rollover risk of a fatal single-vehicle rollover by 72 percent.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety more than 73 percent of 2009 models will have stability control as standard, and it is an option on an additional 14 percent of vehicles. All vehicles must have electronic stability control by 2012.

My concern is that consumers will pass on this very important vehicle safety feature until it becomes standard for all vehicles in 2012. Consumers have the false misconception that if something is an option, then it is not necessary, or it would be a standard option. Anytime the risk of serious injury or death is a reality, SAFETY IS NOT AN OPTION. Manufacturers too often cheat people out of safety features because of profit motives, hoping consumers will assume the risk.

To find out if your vehicle is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) click here.

For more that 30 years I have been in the vanguard of litigation against automobile manufacturers who have needlessly, and too often recklessly, caused injury and death. I have made it my life’s work to improve automobile safety (ex: airbags, seat belts, rollovers and defective tires) and hold vehicle manufacturers accountable.

Please share your thoughts with me by contacting me at 561-842-2820, or emailing me at edricci@edriccilaw.com.