NHTSA: Make ESC Standard and Required

WASHINGTON, Sept 14, 2006; Reuters reported that the U.S. government proposed on Thursday that all new automobiles come with anti-roll technology as standard equipment beginning in 2009.

More than half the vehicles most prone to tipping over already have the technology.

Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group unit of DaimlerChrysler AG have said previously they plan to ramp up production of electronic stability control systems over the next few years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that stability systems will save between 5,300 and 10,300 lives annually. More than 10,000 fatalities -- or a quarter of all U.S. traffic deaths -- occur in rollover crashes, safety figures show.

The agency has over the past two years urged manufacturers to voluntarily add stability systems to their vehicles as standard equipment.

Currently about 30 percent of 2006 models include the stability technology, including nearly 60 percent of those vehicles most prone to roll -- sport utility vehicles, the government said.

Stability systems work with anti-lock brakes to sense a potential roll and adjust steering and speed to help bring the vehicle under control.

The equipment is optional on many popular vehicles made by foreign manufacturers.