Government Proposal May Result in Most Auto Safety Benefits Ever

NEW YORK, Sept. 14 -- On Thursday, September 14, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expected to propose requiring that all vehicles have electronic stability control (ESC) systems, which use brakes and engine power to keep a car from veering out of a driver's control.

NHTSA's proposal to require ESC is one of the most important in automotive history. ESC can help prevent many thousands of injuries and fatalities, and save millions of dollars in costs caused by rollovers and other loss-of-control crashes. Safety experts believe the benefits of ESC will be among -- if not THE -- highest of any motor vehicle safety equipment ever. Safety belts provide superior protection once a crash occurs, but ESC helps prevent many crashes from happening. Safety experts say that ESC could save 10,000 lives a year once it becomes more widespread in America's vehicle fleet.