Safety System ESC/ESP To Be Fitted As Standard

Monday, 21. July 2008

As regular readers will know I am a great supporter of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and would like to see it fitted to all new cars as it is so much more important than ABS which is now fitted as standard on all cars sold in the UK. The European Commission proposed that by 2012 all new cars should have ESC fitted as standard. However the results of a recent EU wide survey showed manufacturers being confused as to which models should be fitted with ESC as standard. EuroNCAP have also complained that when ESC is available as an option high prices are being charged by the manufacturers which is deterring customers from having it fitted. I support wholeheartedly the comments by Michiel van Ratingham, secretary general of EuroNCAP who said ‘Considering that ESC is the most effective safety device since the seatbelt, no car buyer should have to bargain over it. A greater effort to make ESC fitment standard is required’. In addition I strongly suggest that you insist on having ESC fitted on your next car, it is proven to save lives!