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CAMPAIGNER Mohammed Ben Sulayem is aiming to secure major backing in the Middle East for a global campaign to make driving safer through the wider installation of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in cars.
Mr Sulayem, president of the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club, wants to meet distributors of all the major car manufacturers to press them to give priority to the life-saving technology.
ESC is an “intelligent” crash avoidance technology which controls a vehicle’s braking system to avoid oversteer or understeer and retain the drivers control of the vehicle. A range of studies in Europe, the US and elsewhere show that it can reduce passenger car single-vehicle crashes by as much as 35 per cent.
“The aim is persuade manufacturers to make ESC available in as many countries as possible, and progressively make it a standard feature across all model ranges,” said Mr Sulayem.
“The eventual goal is to develop a Global Technical Regulation which will lead to the standardisation of ESC across all new passenger vehicles by 2012.
“Studies have shown that it can make a significant contribution to reducing death and injury on our roads.”
The Emirates Automobile and Touring Club will be taking steps both independently, and in partnership with its counterparts across the Middle East, to raise awareness of the safety benefits of ESC.
