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New Study Confirms Benefits of Electronic Stability Control Systems in Preventing Rollover Accidents

Ever since Electronic Stability Control systems first made an appearance in vehicles in 1995, they have proven themselves in preventing rollover accidents. A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirms that these systems have helped reduce the risk of fatal accidents, most specifically rollover accidents.

Rollover accidents are the most serious of all auto accidents. These constitute just about 3% of all traffic accidents in the US, but constitute more than 30% of all traffic accident -related fatalities. A rollover can typically occur when a motorist is trying to apply the brakes at high-speeds, or when he is trying to make a turn on a slippery surface. Occupants of a vehicle can be seriously injured in a rollover. There’s always the danger of ejection, even when a passenger is wearing a seatbelt. There is also the risk of serious head injuries or spinal cord injuries from a roof crush or collapse. Electronic Stability Control systems help motorists maintain control over their vehicle, even in highly dangerous situations like when you’re on a wet or icy surface.

According to the report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Electronic Stability Control systems lower the risk of fatal accidents by up to 33 %, and lower the risk of a vehicle rollover by up to 70%. The report estimates that if all vehicles had been equipped with Electronic Stability Control systems between 2002 and 2008, it could have prevented up to 15,600 fatal accidents. The report looked at more than 10 years of crash data and concluded that Electronic Stability Control systems continued to prevent fatal accidents and rollover accidents.

The systems prevented the risk of single passenger vehicle rollover accidents by 49%, and multi-vehicle rollover accidents by 20%. The systems seem to be more effective at preventing rollovers in sports utility vehicles than passenger vehicles. However, there is a logical explanation for this. Sports utility vehicles have a high center of gravity, and are therefore more susceptible to a rollover when a motorist tries to turn at high-speeds, compared to passenger cars. Other vehicles that are more prone to rollovers include minivans and pickup trucks.

For the 2010 model year, Electronic Stability Control systems are mandatory on 88% of passenger cars, 100% of all sports utility vehicles, and 52% of pickup trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has new rules that mandate Electronic Stability Control systems on all new cars, pickups and sport-utility vehicles by the year 2012.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends Electronic Stability Control systems in order to prevent the risk of rollovers. The law requiring all cars, SUVs and pickup trucks to come equipped with Electronic Stability Control systems has been widely supported by California car accident lawyers, auto safety groups. The risk of injuries during rollovers can be expected to decline further now that NHTSA has approved a new rule that requires stronger roof crush and collapse standards.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of  rollover accidents. Please visit our website at http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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