The Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control on Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention

Green, P.E., Woodrooffe, J. 2006. The Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control on Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention.
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This study investigates the effects of electronic stability control (ESC) on percentage reductions in the odds of certain crashes generally associated with loss of control. A case-control (induced exposure) study design was implemented using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the General Estimates System (GES).

Using FARS data, vehicles with similar makes and models, but different model years, were analyzed. A 30.5% reduction in the odds of a single-vehicle crash was estimated for passenger cars equipped with ESC, and a 49.5% reduction was estimated for sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The estimated percentage reductions in the odds of rollover for passenger cars and SUVs equipped with ESC were 39.7% and 72.9%, respectively. No significant effects were found on roads that were not dry.

Using the accident type variable in the GES database, cases were defined as vehicles in crashes that ran off the roadway, and controls were defined as vehicles involved in rear-end struck crashes. Overall, estimated percentage reductions for passenger cars and SUVs were 54.5% and 70.3%, respectively. Models that adjust for age and gender effects were fit. No significant differences due to ESC were found between males and females, but middle-aged drivers of passenger cars and older drivers of SUVs tended to benefit most from the presence of ESC. Unlike the FARS data analysis, percentage reductions in the odds of loss of control were significantly greater on roads that were not dry for both passenger cars and SUVs equipped with ESC.

In an analysis using GES data of vehicles with different makes and models, but similar model years, estimated percentage reductions in the odds of loss of control crashes were 40.3% for passenger cars and 71.5% for SUVs.