Government to Require All Cars to Have Electronic Stability Control

Sept. 14, 2006 — -- The government plans to require automakers to include electronic stability control devices on all new vehicles in the coming years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveils its stability control requirements today.

Electronic stability control (ESC) in cars helps prevent rollovers and skidding, and could save thousands of lives.

Seat belts save an estimated 15,000 lives a year, while air bags save 2,500.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projects that mandatory electronic stability control will save 10,000 lives per year.

Stability control uses computer sensors to detect when a vehicle is going out of control.

The sensors automatically adjust the speed and apply the brakes to each wheel individually, as needed.

Ford announced this week that it would be the first American auto company to make ESC standard fleetwide by 2009.

"We believe that safety is one of those attributes that customers do demand," said Ford's Susan Cischke.

GM will follow Ford's lead by 2010. Chrysler hasn't announced any plans.

Experts estimate including ESC will add about $300 to $600 to the price of a new car.

Most used cars cannot be retrofitted with ESC.

Drivers who have been in rollover accidents, like Emily Bowness of Grand Rapids, Mich., say they felt helpless.

"I tried to correct, and I guess I overcorrected," Bowness said.

She was lucky. She was not injured.