EURO NCAP has released the updated results of its EU-wide electronic stability control (ESC) availability survey, which has uncovered disparities in which ESC is offered to car-buyers across the European Union.
This year’s survey reveals that there is improvement by some manufacturers, but the safety organisation is said to be disappointed to find that there are still large discrepancies in the level of standard fit on offer to consumers between countries and size categories.
Recently the European Commission proposed that ESC should be mandatory for all new vehicle types from 2012, with all new vehicles being equipped by 2014. In reality it’s believed that it could take several more years before every vehicle is suitably equipped.
Euro NCAP is concerned that when ESC is offered as optional consumers are charged high prices that then deter them from fitting the technology. The organisation has stated that the technology should be fitted as standard because it believes that 4,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries could be avoided every year.
