>UP TO 4,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries on Europe's roads could be avoided following a European Commission decision that all new cars should be fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) from 2012.
Mandatory ESC, which prevents skidding, will be phased in from 2012 for new car models and commercial vehicles, with all new cars being equipped by 2014. In normal driving conditions, ESC can cut accidents by more than 20 per cent, while benefits are even more significant under slippery conditions.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on May 31, 2008.
