MSA Newslink November 2021

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Technical briefing ESC: The driver’s Guardian Angel A large number of accidents are the result of a loss of control in a bend taken too fast or a need to take rapid evasive action. Most drivers find it difficult to recover from a skid or spin. However, with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), wheel sensors detect the beginning of a slide and small amounts of braking can be applied automatically to individual wheels to regain stability. The risk of an accident is considerably lower for cars fitted with Electronic Stability Control. However, ESC still relies on the car’s basic braking system and tyres and isn’t a substitute for careful driving. Do you explain how ESC works to your pupils – and do you think they understand the processes involved? Tom Harrington looks at ESC – the driver’s ‘Guardian Angel’ First of all, what is Electronic Stability Control (ESC)? Simply, it is an active safety system that keeps drivers on the intended path during sudden manoeuvres and lessens the intensity from crashes caused by a loss of control. It may well be the Holy Grail of road safety. So far, the ability to see round corners has eluded the greatest engineering brains. If we all knew about the idiot trying to overtake just round the next bend, or the obstacle in the road, we would take evasive action before it was too late. True, an experienced motorist should be able to ‘read the signs’ and recognise which conditions carry greater inherent risk than others. Sadly, though, the ability to pre-empt the exact combination of circumstances leading to a crash is, as yet, beyond the minds of the car boffins. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) was mandatory for new passenger cars and commercial vehicles from November 26 2011, and for all new vehicles from November 2014. You can understand why it is treated in the same regard as seatbelts; research shows that skidding is the main cause of accidents with fatal results. “ESC can prevent up to 80 per cent of skid-related accidents,” said Dr. Werner Struth, President of the Chassis System Control Division at Bosch. He added: “After the seatbelt, the system is therefore the most important safety technology in the car”. Bosch developed the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), and in 1995 it was the first company in the world to put it into series production. ESC Explained Electronic Stability Control (ESC) supports the driver in nearly all critical driving situations. It comprises the function of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS), but can also do considerably more – it detects the vehicle skidding almost instantly and actively counteracts it. This considerably improves safety during driving. Until now, ABS and TCS have been able to provide effective support in the case of speed alterations, longitudinally to vehicle to vehicle movement – ie, assisting vehicle braking and acceleration. ESC goes beyond this by supporting the driver in movement’s transverse to the direction of travel. By means of a steering-angle sensor, which detects the position of the steering wheel, the system determines the direction of travel desired by the driver. At the same time, sensors record the vehicle’s rotary movement around its vertical axis, as well as lateral accelerations. So, in its simplest terms, ESC works by combining ABS with traction control, detecting the presence of a skid and working to counteract its debilitating effects by returning control to the driver. It allows drivers to effectively steer round a potential collision in a crash situation. And it really works. Research from the Department for Transport suggests that vehicles equipped with ESC are 25pc less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those without it. On current fatality figures, this equates to 380 fatal crashes and a reduction of injuries by 7,800. It may be very effective, but public NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2021
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com awareness of the system has taken a while to catch on. In a survey carried out by Bosch, just one per cent of respondents mentioned ESC when asked to list active safety systems. However, when ESC and its benefits were explained, as many as 67 per cent said they would consider it in their next vehicle purchase. Active safety at work ESC consists of various sensors and systems that enhance a car’s stability and ensures better traction control and anti-skid support when doing extreme manoeuvres, such as over steering or under steering. For example, if a wheel that is spinning unusually faster than normal is detected, this active safety technology automatically activates the brake on the very wheel or momentarily decreases the engine power, helping it to regain its traction. After the airbag is deployed in a collision, if the system determines that there is little or no pedal movement from the driver, it considers the vehicle’s speed and motion at that moment before applying the brakes to make sure the car safely stops. According to Director General of FIA Region I, Jacob Bangsgaard: “ESC is a technology with a proven ability to prevent a high number of fatalities and accidents.” There have been several studies which have confirmed the significant contribution ESC makes to road safety. After evaluating almost one million accidents involving personal injury, Toyota came to the conclusion that the standard use of ESC could reduce the number of driving accidents by up to 50 per cent. The claim supported the investigation results of the RESIKO study of the Central Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) in 1998, which proved that 25 per cent of accidents could be attributed to skidding. When considering fatal accidents, the GDV went even further to state that 60 per cent of all fatal accidents could be attributed to side-on impacts mainly “A skid doesn’t just happen - it is caused or induced by some action of the driver. The best way to avoid a skid is not getting into it in the first instance. A skid will usually occur when a driver is either changing speed or direction” caused by skidding. In addition, Daimler-Chrysler has reported a 30 per cent reduction in accidents since introducing ESC as standard in all Mercedes-Benz vehicles since 1999 and a report completed by Volkswagen concluded that based on their analysis of German accident data, the installation of ESC as standard could contribute to a 35 per cent drop in fatal accidents. A testing event organised by Bosch, Roadsafe and Mercedes Benz at the skid pan facilities of the Metropolitan Police’s Driving School at Hendon demonstrated the effectiveness of ESC. Before attendees were allowed to experience the benefits of ESC first - hand, they were given a graphic demonstration of the sort of road crash the system can help prevent. The video footage, taken from a CCTV camera in Germany was so dramatic it was hard to believe that it wasn’t computer enhanced in some way. Sadly, for the particular driver involved in the crash, that was not the case. Following the video and a short presentation, attendees were taken out to the skid pan facility where attendees The end of the skid pan...? When the new Hendon Police Academy was built, the much-loved skid pan (as used in the research exercise mentioned in the main article) was made redundant. With the advent of modern brake technology and ESC, it was felt that the skid pan was unnecessary. However, those who experienced some skid pan training there will always miss the ‘fun’ and valuable experience they had while practising on it. were able to witness drivers putting the test cars through a series of demanding exercises, both with and without ESC. A series of cones were used to simulate a potential crash scenario on a wet road and the drivers performed an emergency avoidance procedure at moderate speed of around 40mph. The results were predictable but startling nonetheless. While ABS can control skidding in a straight line very effectively, the car’s traction control is required to maintain the line on cornering by detecting which wheel was losing traction. Skid Prevention No matter how good, how fast, how expensive, how efficient or technologically advanced your vehicle is, it’s you the driver who determines whether it is a safe means of transport or not. When a driver experiences a skid he will usually say it was a result of a wet road or slippery conditions, but of course, this is not true – though it may be a contributing factor. A skid doesn’t just happen - it is caused or induced by some action of the driver. The best way to avoid a skid is not getting into it in the first instance. A skid will usually occur when a driver is either changing speed or direction. The four principal causes of skidding are: • Excessive speed for the circumstances • Coarse steering in relation to a speed which is not in itself excessive • Fierce acceleration • Sudden or harsh braking Continued on page 28 NEWSLINK n NOVEMBER 2021 27
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