General information about ESC

ESC stabilises the vehicle and prevent skidding under all driving conditions and driving situation within the physical limits by active brake intervention on one or more wheels and by intelligent engine torque management.

As soon as ESC identifies a critical driving situation it intervenes by applying specific brake pressure to one or more wheels, as required. If necessary, the engine torque is also adjusted automatically. In this way, ESC helps the driver stabilise the vehicle - although the extent to which it can do so is of course limited by the physical laws governing the dynamic behaviour of the vehicle.

A yaw-rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor continuously monitor the movement of the vehicle about its vertical axis and compare the actual value with the target value calculated on the basis of the driver's steering input and the vehicle speed. The moment the car deviates from this ideal line, ESC intervenes to counteract any incipient tendency to skid by applying a precisely metered braking force to one or more wheels. ESC systems combine the functions of ABS and TCS traction control and complement them with directional stability assistance.

Variants of ESC are sold under several brand names such as:

ASC (Automotive Stability Control);

ASR (Automatic Stability Regulation);

AH (Active Handling System);

ASMS (Automotive Stability Management System);

CBC (Cornering Brake Control);

DSC (Dynamic Stability Control);

EDS (Electronic Differential-lock System);

DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control);

ESC (Electronic Stability Control);

ESP (Electronic Stability Program);

ICCS (Integrated Chassis Control System);

IVD (Integrated Vehicle Dynamics);

PCS (Precision Control System);

PSM (Porsche Stability Management);

SCS (Stability Control System);

StabiliTrac;

STC (Stability and Traction Control System);

Traxxar;

VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control);

VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist);

VSC (Vehicle Stability Control);

VSES (Vehicle Stability Enhancement System); and

YCS (Yaw Control Stability).

A Proven Safety System

• A recent study from the University of Cologne shows that 4.000 lives can be saved and 100.000 accidents avoided if all European cars have ESC.
• Mercedes data indicates that the installation of ESC as standard equipment on all of its vehicles has resulted in a 29 percent reduction in single-vehicle crashes and 15 percent fewer crashes overall. Based on these figures, the widespread installation of ESC in the United States could save as many as 5,000 lives and nearly $35 billion in economic losses annually. This study, which implements German government data, is especially significant because all new Mercedes vehicles are equipped with ESC as standard equipment.
• DEKRA Automotive Research in Germany indicates a 27 percent reduction in serious loss-of-control crashes. It also reports that 37 percent of corner accidents are definitively influenced by ESC, confirming the Mercedes findings.  The European Accident Causation survey, conducted throughout Europe, shows that ESC had a positive influence on the total number of loss-of- control accidents.
• The Swedish National Road Administration study shows that ESC was found to reduce accidents with personal injuries. It goes on to recommend the implementation of ESC in new cars as quickly as possible and also advises consumers to choose vehicles with ESC, especially in countries with wet and icy roads.
• A study by Toyota in Japan reports that vehicles with ESC showed a 35 percent reduction of single-vehicle crashes, which could save an estimated 6,000 lives annually in the United States, and a 30 percent reduction of head-on crashes, saving another 2,500 lives. The study also confirms Mercedes' conclusion that ESC is more effective in higher speed ranges when vehicle dynamics play a greater role and when the crashes that occur are more severe.

More studies (click here)