Abstract
Keywords - Active safety, real-world crashes, skidding accidents, driver assistance systems (ESP), reduction of risk rates
Abstract - At present a dynamic development in the field of active safety systems and electronic driver assistance system takes place. The former distinction between active and passive safety is increasingly substituted by networking an integrated safety concept. The Electronic Stability Program ESP as a key technology combines aspects of active and passive safety as proven on the basis of real world accident studies which are analyzed in this report. On three levels, the results of international research regarding ESP are presented which show a high degree of conformity.
Skidding accidents are a focal problem of safety as they comprise about 25% of all accidents with personal injury and 35-46% of fatal car accidents. Even for commercial vehicles ESP relevant skidding accidents account for around 9% of all accidents. Based on in-depth studies a positive impact of ESP can be expected lowering accidents with personal injury involving skidding by 45%; in fatal accidents this reduction rate may amount up to 67% and more. Field studies of GDV and other international research institutes confirm these expectations.
From different international and independent studies and field studies of GDV it has been observed that for ESP equipped cars a decrease of accidents by about 20 took place. Therefore, it is a major safety requirement of highest priority to integrate the dynamic stability system ESP as soon as possible as seria equipment in all passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, truck-trailer combinations and buses.