If stability control was fitted to all cars, it could save 4,000 lives each year. Now there are calls for it to be mandatory for all new cars, reports the Irish Times. In Ireland, as car buyers, we are pretty good at picking the right colour. We like silver a lot and black… But ask any would-be buyer if they would covet ESC on their car and they stare blankly into space...

So what exactly is ESC? ESC is Electronic Stability Control, but it is also known by a number of different acronyms, such as ESP (Electronic Stability Program) or DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) depending on which manufacturer's car the technology is fitted to. The story details how ESC is a technology that, in the event of a driver losing control of their vehicle, will apply braking to individual wheels and reduce engine torque to get the car back in line, all in a matter of milliseconds.

As it stands, VRT is charged on safety features such as extra airbags, ABS brakes and ESC. ESC, when it isn't standard fit, is therefore an expensive option for some buyers. Denmark, a country known for its high taxation on cars, recently took the step of offering a VRT rebate on ESC, making a car cheaper if this technology is chosen. The result has been a 99 per cent uptake of this offer. It is hoped that other countries will follow suit.
Irish Times