Australians continue to embrace lifesaving Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems with the technology fitted to almost seven out of ten new vehicles.
Latest figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show 65.6 per cent of new passenger cars and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were fitted with ESC – a 12.1 per cent increase in the past year.
“Manufacturers and motorists have moved quickly to embrace this lifesaving technology and by the end of the year it is likely to be fitted to more than seven out of ten new vehicles,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.
The industry supports moves to have the technology fitted as standard to all passenger cars and SUVs on the Australian market from November 2011.
“ESC offers significant safety benefits and the industry has worked cooperatively with the Federal Government to ensure that this technology becomes available on all new vehicles as soon as possible,” he said.
“It is vital that there are nationally consistent regulations in place for ESC fitting and that these are harmonised as far as possible with international standards,” Mr McKellar said.
ESC uses sensors to compare differences between the car’s actual course and the driver’s steering wheel input.
If the onboard computer senses that loss of control is imminent, then the system applies braking to individual wheels to bring the car back to its intended course.
For further information contact:
Sheena Ireland, Communications Manager
P: 02 6229 8221
M: 0458 038 555
E: [email protected]