Buying A Safer Car in Louisiana: What Is ESC?

You don't normally buy a new car every so many months. When you do, and spend a lot of money on it, manufacturers and Louisiana dealers are keen to advertise the latest in electronic wizardry and computer controlled mechanics, like ESC.

What is ESC?
ESC stands for Electronic Stability Control. It is a computer system monitoring the loss of steering control and applying the brakes on each individual wheel in order to bring the vehicle back into its intended path. Some ESC systems also reduce the engine's power when activated.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that ESC will reduce single-vehicle crashes of passenger cars by 34 percent and single-vehicle crashes of SUVs by 59 percent, sharply reducing the odds of rollover accidents.

ESC will become compulsory on all vehicles up to 10,000 pounds sold in the U.S.A. as of 2012. The NHTSA calculates that, once all passenger vehicles on the country's roads are outfitted with ESC, between 5,300 and 9,000 deaths and 156,000 to 238,000 injuries could be prevented every year in all types of crashes.

Along with ESC, make sure your new car has side air bags, another recent feature that has saved countless lives in the last 5 years.

Finally, you may want to consider the distance you will cover and the time you will spend driving your new auto. Are you still so sure nothing will happen to you, no rear-ending, no side crash at an intersection, no pileup? Wouldn't it be worth a little of your time, before you pick the type and model you want to buy, to check on the vehicle's crashworthiness and safety ratings?

At the Young Firm in New Orleans we are dedicated to the safety of our clients. If you have been involved in a car crash, contact us for a free evaluation of your case.