NHTSA to mandate stability control

Sept. 18, 2006
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration plans to mandate electronic stability control as a standard feature on all new cars and trucks by the 2012 model year

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking for electronic stability control (ESC) as a standard feature on all new cars and trucks by the 2012 model year in the Federal Register.

The proposed rule would require all automotive manufacturers to start installing ESC on passenger vehicles under 10,000 lbs. in the 2009 model year, with the system becoming a standard feature on all vehicles by the 2012 model year.

NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason said ESC systems use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to help the driver maintain control in situations where the vehicle would skid. She noted a 2004 study by NHTSA that analyzed 40,000 crashes over a six-year period and found that ESC could reduce fatalities in single-vehicle crashes by 30% for passenger cars and 63% for sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

“[ESC] is the greatest life-saving improvement since the safety belt,” Nason said, noting it could save from 5,300 to 10,300 lives annually and prevent from 168,000 to 252,000 injuries. The average cost to make ESC a standard feature, according to NHTSA’s research, is estimated to be $111 per vehicle on vehicles that already include ABS brakes.

To view the NPRM, go to http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-7598.htm

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Take Control of Your Finances: A Practical Guide for Carriers in Trucking

This guide is designed to help you navigate these challenges, featuring strategies for automation, examples of effective tools, and a real-world success story from Phoenix Cargo...

Report: The 2024-2025 State Of Heavy-Duty Repair

Fullbay's fifth annual State of Heavy-Duty Repair compiles insights from almost 1,000 experts and over 3,500 shops. If you aren't leveraging these proven data points, your competition...

Guide For Managing Maintenance

The Guide for Managing Maintenance is a comprehensive resource designed to help fleet managers improve their maintenance operations, reduce downtime, and lower overall fleet costs...

The Road Ahead: 2025 Trucking and Fleet Insights

Discover how fleet operators are impacted by challenges like driver onboarding delays and complex compliance, and the critical need for technology to boost efficiency and cut ...