Statistical Analysis of the Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems: Final Report

Abstract and keywords

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a safety technology designed to enhance a vehicle’s stability and control in all driving situations. ESC first became available in the United States in 1997. Statistical analyses of 1997-2004 crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and 1997-2003 crash data from the State data files estimate reductions with ESC for various types of crash involvements.

ESC reduced fatal run-off-road crashes by 36 percent for passenger cars and 70 percent for light trucks and vans (LTVs). The reductions are statistically significant.
Police-reported run-off-road involvements were decreased by 45 percent in passenger cars and 72 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant.
Fatal single-vehicle crashes that did not involve pedestrians, bicycles, and animals decreased (due to ESC) by 36 percent in passenger cars and 63 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant.
ESC reduced police-reported single-vehicle crashes (excluding pedestrian, bicycle, animal crashes) by 26 percent for passenger cars and 48 percent for LTVs. The reductions are statistically significant.
Rollover involvements in fatal crashes were decreased by 70 percent in passenger cars and 88 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant.
Police-reported crashes involving rollovers were reduced by 64 percent in passenger cars and 85 percent in LTVs. The reductions are statistically significant.
ESC reduced culpable fatal multi-vehicle crashes by 19 percent for passenger cars and 34 percent for LTVs. Only the reduction involving LTVs is statistically significant.
Culpable involvements in police-reported multi-vehicle crashes were decreased by 13 percent in passenger cars and 16 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant.
Overall, ESC reduced all fatal crashes by 14 percent for passenger cars and 28 percent for LTVs. Only the reduction in LTVs is statistically significant.
Overall, police-reported crash involvements decreased by 8 percent in passenger cars and 10 percent in LTVs. The decreases are statistically significant.

Keywords: NHTSA; FARS; ESC; statistical analysis; evaluation; benefits; effectiveness; fatality reduction; electronic stability control systems

Cited Works (3)

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Cited By (11)

Year	Entry
2008	Kallan MJ, Jermakian JS. SUV rollover in single vehicle crashes and the influence of ESC and SSF. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.3-8.
2008	Padmanaban J, Shields LE, Scheibe RR, Eyges VE. A comprehensive review of rollover accidents involving vehicles equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) systems. In: 52nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 6-8, 2008; San Diego, CA.9-19.
2009	Aoki H, Aga M, Miichi Y, Matsuo Y. Development of a safety impact estimation tool for advanced safety technologies. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2009	Svenson AL, Grygier PA, Salaani MK, Heydinger GJ, Brown T, Schwarz C. Implementation of stability control for tractor-trailers using the national advanced driving simulator. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2009	Carter AA, Burgett A, Srinivasan G, Ranganathan R. Safety impact methodology (SIM): evaluation of pre-production systems. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2011	Sivinski R. Update of NHTSA's 2007 analysis of ESC effectiveness. In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 13-16, 2011; Washington, DC.
2017	Feig P, Schatz J, Lienkamp M, Gschwendtner K, Borrack M. Monetary and prospective benefit assessment method for advanced driver assistance systems. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 5-8, 2017; Detroit, MI.
2019	Östling M, Lubbe N, Jeppsson H, Puthan P. Passenger car safety beyond ADAS: defining remaining accident configurations as future priorities. In: Proceedings of the 26th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 10-13, 2019; Eindhoven, Netherlands.
2010	Eyges VE, Stadter G, Padmanaban J. Without electronic stability control (esc) systems. In: Proceedings of the 2010 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 15-17, 2010; Hannover, Germany.307-314.
2016	Klinich KD, Flannagan CAC, Hu J, Reed MP. Potential safety effects of low‐mass vehicles with comprehensive crash avoidance technology. In: Proceedings of the 2016 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 14-16, 2016; Malaga, Spain.755-764.
2019	Östling M, Jeppsson H, Lubbe N. Predicting crash configurations in passenger car to passenger car crashes to guide the development of future passenger car safety. In: Proceedings of the 2019 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 11-13, 2019; Florence, Italy.625-642.