Rollover Stability Control
Ford to Make Electronic Stability Control Standard on all Vehicles
Ford Motor Co. has announced that it will make electronic stability control or rollover-reducing technology a standard feature on all new vehicles by the end of 2009. Ford Motor Company will provide standard electronic stability control on all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury retail cars and trucks by the end of 2009. Currently ESC is standard on all Ford mid- and full-size SUVs and will be expanded to small SUVs in 2007. Ford has built 4 million vehicles globally with electronic stability control systems with more than one million of those vehicles feature Ford’s industry exclusive, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control. Such ESC is comprised of two gyroscopic sensors to help measure and control both yaw and roll movements. Electronic stability control ESC offers helps drivers in emergency situations by assisting them stay on the road and hopefully avoiding rollovers and accidents.
Ford Motor Company is announcing it will build all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury retail cars and trucks with standard electronic stability control (ESC) by the end of 2009. Ford already is a world leader in the technology, with ESC currently standard on all Ford mid- and full-size SUVs, and standard ESC expanded to small SUVs and all CUVs in 2007.
Several studies, including those by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, show that electronic stability control is a highly effective safety innovation. A recent IIHS study indicates ESC systems can reduce single vehicle crashes by more than 40 percent and fatal accidents by 56 percent.
Ford’s first application of electronic stability control debuted in the 2000 model year. The 2003 model year Volvo XC90 was the first sport utility vehicle to feature standard AdvanceTrac ® with Roll Stability Control. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control is standard equipment on most 2007 model year Ford Motor Company SUVs and crossovers, including, Explorer and Expedition, Sport Trac, Lincoln Navigator, Mercury Mountaineer, Volvo XC90, Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and on most E-350 passenger Wagons. AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control will be added standard to the 2008 model year Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. ESC will be added standard to the 2008 model year Ford Freestyle.
Ford said it is accelerating plans regarding the stability control systems, which have become more widely available on sport utility vehicles such as the Louisville-built Explorer, vans and pickups as studies have found they can reduce vehicle rollovers and deaths.