Stability Control Saves Lives
In a shock to virtually no one, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study that states 10,000 car crashes a year could be prevented if all vehicles were equipped with electronic stability control. The landmark safety system applies brakes to the appropriate wheels and regulates acceleration during erratic driving situations, allowing drivers to correct themselves more easily.
Most premium makes and models now come standard with stability control in their cars, and many new trucks and SUVs of all prices come with the technology either standard or as an option. Manufacturers often trademark their version of the system and thus confuse buyers. Wikipedia has a full list of the manufacturer branded names here.
Also confusing in the safety shopping business are similarly named systems that are completely different from electronic stability control. Traction control is a more common, yet different, technology that provides better grip during hard acceleration. Rollover mitigation systems, often included in new SUVs to assist vehicles with a high center of gravity, are based on the same technology as stability control.
If safety is a top concern during your car shopping process, stability control should rank right up there with airbags on your checklist.
