Just found this on Autopia …

Safety
Electronic stability control (ESC) systems, which are marketed under the names Electronic Stability Program, StabiliTrack, and Active Handling, dramatically reduce the risk of rollovers and accidents caused by losing control of the vehicle, according to new data from the Insurance Institute our life. for Highway Safety.

ESC reduces the risk of fatalities from single vehicle crashes by 56 percent, and from multiple vehicle crashes by 32 percent. The technology uses sensors to detect when a vehicle is likely to get out of control and brakes the wheels independently. The IIHS study echoes a similar study from the NHTSA (blogged here.

These statistics seem more important than the front and side crash ratings since they can prevent accidents including fatal SUV rollovers, which are reduced by 80 percent.

Less than half of new vehicles have ESC, according to IIHS.

“ESC is standard on 40 percent of 2006 passenger vehicle models and optional on another 15 percent. It’s standard on every 2006 Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Mercedes, and Porsche. Another 8 vehicle makes (Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mini, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo) offer at least optional ESC on all of their models. But ESC, standard or optional, is limited to 25 percent or fewer models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Hummer, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Saturn, Subaru, and Suzuki.”

ESC costs between $300 to $800 as an option, but that seems a small price to pay for potentially saving your life!