During this March’s meeting of the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (UNECE WP29) 11 March in Geneva, Bernard Gauvin, Vice Chairman of UNECE WP29, said that June 2008 was the target date for a proposal on a Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Electronic Stability Control (ESC). WP29 is, among others, responsible for finalising this proposal which is of critical for the future international legislative efforts on ESC. In Europe the European Commission intends to use the GTR as the technical foundation for legislation on ESC. The goal for the EU and countries like Canada is to make ESC mandatory for all new car types from 2012 at the latest. This was made clear by participants at the WP29 meeting 11 March.  

Jacob Bangsgaard, Director of International Affairs of the FIA Foundation stressed in a presentation at this UNECE meeting that we should not rely solely on forthcoming legislation on ESC, as current availability is still far too low, and thousands of lives could and should be saved between now and 2012. The FIA Foundation is one of the key promoters of international awareness on why car buyers should always choose a car fitted with ESC and how important it is that the consumers are given sufficient information so that they can know to choose ESC. A choice that could be saving their life as well as the lives of others if they experience a situation where their car starts skidding.    

Many of the working group members were surprised to hear that less than 20% of the cars on the European road have ESC and less than half of the new cars in Europe are fitted with this life saving technology. In Asia this figure is even lower as in a country like Japan less than 15% of the new cars are equipped with ESC. More positive is it that the US already decided in 2006 to make ESC mandatory in all cars from 2012 and this has been a good example for other countries to follow. The US has through its active involvement in defining a global regulation made an effort also to make future car buyers outside the US benefit from ESC.

The FIA and the FIA Foundation hosted a reception on 11 March for the UNECE WP29 participants. Susan Pikrallidas, FIA Secretary General Mobility, applauded in her welcome speech the WP29 members for their strong dedication to the demanding technical work leading the way to a global regulation. She told the members that the FIA is fully committed to support this effort as the global regulation will have a strong impact on the future safety of the car users. FIA member clubs worldwide promote and support consumer awareness campaigns highlighting ESC’s safety benefits. In addition the FIA and the FIA Foundation call for all vehicle manufacturers to make ESC available in as many countries as possible and progressively make ESC a standard feature across all model ranges and at the latest by 2012.

The presentation made by the FIA Foundation  PDF (1,4 MB)

Link to the work of UNECE WP29 (click here)