Programme is a breakthrough for road safety
It was 25 years ago to the day that a remedy was finally provided in the shape of a pioneering invention – the ESP electronic stability program that Bosch and Daimler-Benz first launched in S-class vehicles in 1995.
Since then, ESP has been keeping vehicles safely on track, also in critical situations. Bosch accident researchers estimate that in the EU alone, the anti-skid system has saved some 15,000 lives over the past 25 years, as well as preventing just under half a million accidents involving personal injury.
Together with the seat-belt and airbag, ESP is one of the most important life-savers in a vehicle. “The development of the electronic stability program was a milestone on the path to our vision zero of no more road deaths,” commented Harald Kroeger, Member, Board of Management, Bosch.
The anti-skid system uses information about vehicle dynamics to detect whether the car is heading in the direction the driver is steering. If there is a discrepancy between these two factors, ESP intervenes. This may sound simple but is in fact a complex process.
Smart sensors help compare steering angle and vehicle trajectory 25 times a second. If the two diverge, ESP reduces engine torque and brakes individual wheels. In this way, the system helps the driver prevent the vehicle from breaking away or skidding–effectively nipping many accidents in the bud.
With ESP on board, up to 80 percent of all skidding accidents can be prevented. It combines the functions of the ABS anti-lock braking system and the TCS (traction control system) but can do considerably more. It also detects vehicle skidding movements, and actively counteracts them.
