Comments on: Govt makes ESC manadatory from 2011

By: John Lambert

John Lambert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:31:25 +0000

Comment bto Captain Mainwaring
You are obviously one of those people who is to say the least ill informed, and who makes assumptions without the facts. I was selling the Jeep Cherokee for a cousin who lives in remote part of Victoria – it was NOT my car.
And for the rest – there has been no study that has shown ESC makes cars safer – ABSOLUTELY NONE! All the studies have either compared apples with pears or not directly checked the impact of ESC at all.

By: DGS

DGS — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:15:35 +0000

My concern about ESC and Traction Control devices is that over time car companies may begin to make crap handling cars that only drive well because of ESC etc, and if the ESC is turned off or it fails (especially with age) you could be left trying to steer a pig.

I am sure most manufacturers will do the right thing, but it would be very handy if publications like CA etc test all new cars with ESC on and off to make sure this tech is not used to mask crap handling refinement.

By: mememememe

mememememe — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:36:19 +0000

Why wait until 2011, every manafacturer already has the technology available.
The like of toyota, honda and even volvo offered ESC as a standard feature on their vechiles overseas for years before they where added to australain models.

This will stop dodgy car ripping off australians by deleting safety features off australian models.
Honda needs a kick in the head.

It is inexcusable for australains to be offered less safety features than Japanese or european buyers.

By: Mad Max

Mad Max — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:19:53 +0000

Confused, ESC systems in cars do differ. Some cut in quite early, others like Holden and Ford (Aus) give the driver time to react before cutting in. I prefer driving with the system on.
The other point I will make about some of the comments above is that you might be a very good driver, but all it takes is one second or two of inatention or driving while tired and if the system is off, you are an accident waiting to happen. The computer in the car never gets tired and never lacks concentration. You might be a great driver but what about the people around you? That teenager with a 2 week old license or the person next to you brushing their hair or eating cereal on the way to work. Making it mandatory is a great idea, but if you want to turn it off then by all means do so.

By: ABC

ABC — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:08:33 +0000

Good move as long as the ESC systems are properly calibrated and switchable, like some Traction Control systems.

I have driven some cars where I feel Traction Control actually impedes safe driving due to poor calibration and prefer to drive with the system off.

By: gazman

gazman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:33:12 +0000

Jake02 just to correct you it is Mr Rudd and he is doing plenty right.

By: Captain Mainwaring

Captain Mainwaring — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:29:21 +0000

The fact that the highly experienced editor of a prominent motoring magazine recently destroyed a new BMW M3 because he was stupid enough to turn the ESC off proves that most of you heroes don’t know what you’re talking about.

By: Yanzo

Yanzo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:21:56 +0000

i dont really care as long as there’s a esc off button

By: Confused

Confused — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:09:30 +0000

Some ppl are plain stupid; sorry to say that.
ESC has been researched thoroughly and has been proven to stabilize the car in emergency. No argument against that. Ceratinly, like seatbelt and airbags, ESC has side-effects and the benefit clearly outweighs the risk. Sure, if you are driving offroad through the mud, then turn off the ESC. But car accidents happen mostly on our common roads.

My only question is – whether ESC in all cars have same capability or they differ in their quality/reliability like brake, or clutch or any other equipment from cars to cars.

By: Mad Max

Mad Max — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:33 +0000

Glenn, no classics don’t have to be converted to ESC. I have a 69 Camaro and belong to 2 clubs. If a car is built prior to a safety device being standrd fit on that car, then you don’t have to upgrade. A good point is seatbelts. If your ride was built before seatbelts were fitted and/or became mandatory then it can be registered and driven without one. In some cases it is a bad idea to fit them. We have some vitage/classics in one club and it is all but impossible to fit belts safely. I have them in my car and would be reluctant to drive a car without them. But thats just me.
On the subject of kit cars, I think you will find that low build cars will be excempt, like they are from compulsory fitting of airbags. There are regulations that govern limited build cars here in Australia (I think it is less than 100 cars a year, but might be wrong on the exact number) that give a great deal of freedom as to what and whats not required for certification. We have a could of Lotus 7 types and a few “Cobra” types in the club and they were biult in the last 18 months and don’t have airbags. One does have ABS (not compulsory) that comes as part of a kit that can be purchased.

By: AAA

AAA — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:44:24 +0000

I am OK with making ESC mandatory. But they should also make ON-OFF switchable ESC mandatory too. It’s not switchable on Toyotas and some other cars.

Just in case the diameter of 1 tyre changes due to under/over inflation or fitment of snow chains, the car is still driveable when the ESC is temporarily switched off or if 1 of many ESC sensors is stuffed or clogged up with mud when one’s in the outback.

By: Con

Con — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:13:05 +0000

Will be a sad day as bye bye kit cars if ESC is mandatory for all new registered cars. Most kit cars won’t be feasible if they need to offer this technology.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:17:12 +0000

I had the FG down at the Ford Service centre tonight.

I just lead into a bit of chit chat asking if they had any known problems with them yet, and should there be something to look out for sort of stuff.
He did tell me since it was an XR to keep the tyre pressures right up to at leats 40 psi other wise tyres would be going out the door every 15,000k’s.

I then asked if I should be running the rears different.
He then nearly jumped over the counter telling me it is important to run them at the same pressures all round, other wise it would confuse the DSC (ESC).
He told that different pressures could bring on stability warning lights as the system would detect wheels rolling at different speeds.
He told of an extreme case where a Territory owner came in and pretty much abused him saying fix this POS because the warning lights kept coming on.
He then asked the customer to walk around the side where he pointed out he had a flat tyre.
He then asked the owner if he had noticed anything when he was driving around corners and round abouts etc to which the owner said no.
He then told the owner “Well you know the DSC is doing its job then”

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:17:22 +0000

Frontman, the publication you refer to put many other makes and models of cars through that same test, and they managed to roll the 1 car that came from a manufacturer that has a reputation for having sub-par esc systems, even on their “luxury” brand.

The esc systems are only as good as the manufacturer calibrates them to be, for example Ford’s, Holden’s and Mazda’s systems are widely regarded to be some of the best in the business.

By: Mumble Duck

Mumble Duck — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:08:33 +0000

Jakes02, don’t be silly!………

“This new regulation supports what Holden is already committed to achieving – that every next generation Holden, including light commercial vehicles, will have ESC as standard, if not already standard.”

By: Will

Will — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:45:48 +0000

ESC is fine guys. The machine I purchased some 15 (Skoda) months ago has it. You can switch it off for work in slow slushy mud.

By: glenn

glenn — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:44:09 +0000

esc is a grate idear for new cars but if they make it have to be fited to older cars like the old clasic. then all they are going to do is distroy a lot of nice old clasic and make a lot of people that cart aford to by a new car with this end up losig there car or go in to det untill they end up loseing everthing. one day they see that safty device help save live only some of the times. most road acdients that i have been to the air bags were never actvated.

By: Frontman

Frontman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:17:26 +0000

For the record, I believe in esp and abs, however it appears that some have missed my point. Train the drivers to drive not make the cars mask their mistakes!!!!!!!!
New drivers will become to dependant on the sytem and it will let them down at higher speeds than if the car didn’t have it. Also you get the older drivers who learnt without it amay well find them selves correct at the same time that the system takes over causing a fast acting over correction with poor results. (this is my understanding of the infamous incident from a lesser quality print media publication)
the system is only as good as the driver, so lets get back to basic and teach people to drive first, then give them the systems to make them better!

By: realcars

realcars — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:51:39 +0000

Gee I thought Lexus invented ESC?

By: Captain Mainwaring

Captain Mainwaring — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:41:21 +0000

The fact that John Lambert chooses to drive a Jeep Cherokee says it all really, and confirms that his comments are coming out an orifice other than his mouth.