Scrappage Scheme - An Opportunity For Motorists to Up-Grade on Safety

DENHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – June 1, 2009: Under the UK Government scrappage scheme, which started last month, cars that are ten years or older can be traded for a new model. According to Bosch, very few cars over ten years old will have been fitted with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and so the scheme provides an opportunity for buyers to specify a new car with this important safety technology.

ESP was invented by Bosch in 1995 and is a vehicle active safety technology that can help drivers avoid crashes by reducing the danger of skidding arising from an emergency driving avoidance manoeuvre. ESP is ‘three in one braking’ and includes ABS and traction control. According to the latest research, the installation rate for ESP in cars sold in the UK has risen over the last five years from 20% to 56%. Smaller cars, those likely to benefit from the scrappage scheme, are, however, less likely to have ESP fitted and so Bosch is advising buyers to specify models that either have the technology as standard or can be specified as a factory fitted option. The net result for the motorist is an inherently safer car than the one traded and scrapped under the scheme and one that will have a higher residual value in the long term.

RoadSafe director Adrian Walsh commented, “Safety should be a high priority for customers - ESP is the most significant safety advance since the seat belt; this scheme now gives them the opportunity to reduce their risk significantly by buying a modern ESP equipped car – they should jump at it”.

Following an extensive EU regulatory safety review, the mandatory fitment of ESP to all new car and van models launched throughout Europe will be required from 2011 and on all new cars and vans sold from November 2014. The Department for Transport ESP effectiveness study concluded that if every vehicle were fitted with ESP, 380 lives could be saved and 7,800 accidents avoided each year on UK roads.