Statement of Continental Teves Regarding NHTSA's Proposed Program to Deal with Vehicle Rollover

26 May 2000
Statement of Continental Teves Regarding NHTSA's Proposed Program to Deal with Vehicle Rollover
    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 25 Statement of Continental Teves
regarding NHTSA's proposed program to deal with vehicle rollover:

    Today, NHTSA is proposing a consumer information program as a means of
addressing one of the leading causes of motor vehicle deaths on America's
roadways -- vehicle rollovers.  According to the most recent federal crash
statistics for 1998, 9,771 Americans died in rollover crashes.
    Consumers need to know that many factors contribute to rollovers and any
vehicle can roll over under the right circumstances.  In addition to the basic
information that NHTSA proposes for its rating system, new safety technology
that is built into the vehicle offers drivers more opportunities than ever to
enhance the safety and security of their families.  New vehicle purchasers
need to be aware of this technology to make smart decisions when buying a new
car or light truck.
     Continental Teves is a leader in this field and has technology available
and in use that actually will help prevent a rollover incident from occurring.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) helps drivers maintain control of their
vehicles under circumstances that might otherwise result in a rollover or
other serious incident.  Building on the anti-lock braking system (ABS), ESP
helps the driver by recognizing conditions that affect vehicle stability, such
as understeer and oversteer, and then stabilizes the vehicle by braking
individual wheels and adjusting engine speed automatically.  Onboard
microcomputers constantly monitor the vehicle for any signs of instability.
Once ESP senses that the vehicle is about to skid or slide, it makes
corrections -- much faster than a driver could make them.
    ESP technology is offered on many vehicles sold in the US today and that
market is expected to grow in the future.  In Europe, 30 percent of vehicles
are expected to have electronic stability systems by 2004.