Danger of skidding in critical driving situations
When suddenly avoiding obstacles, underestimating corners or on changing road surfaces, even experienced drivers can easily lose control of their car. Why? Because lateral forces are exerted on the car in any driving situation. Driving or steering too quickly can make the vehicle unstable. The forces "push" the vehicle in a different direction from the desired route and the car can no longer be safely controlled.

Before a critical situation is reached, ESP® intervenes with lightening speed. The vehicle stays safely on track and accidents are prevented. So always buy a car with ESP® - because ESP® can save lives.

How ESP® works
ESP® is always active in the background. Rotational speed sensors on all wheels measure their speeds. The steering angle sensor constantly registers the driver's desired steering direction. At the same time, yaw rate sensors detect the vehicle's rotational movement along its vertical axis. 25 times a second, a microcomputer compares the driver's commands with the actual driving direction. If a difference is detected, ESP® intervenes within fractions of a second. Targeted braking of individual wheels stabilizes the vehicle, allowing the driver to maintain control of the car. Studies by renowned vehicle manufacturers show that ESP® prevents accidents and saves lives.

How the systems interact
ESP® is based on technology from two tried and tested active safety systems: the anti-locking brake system ABS, which prevents wheels locking while braking, and the traction control system TCS, which ensures that wheels do not spin when setting off. The functions of both systems are also included in the ESP®. While the ABS and TCS influence the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle, ESP® also improves the lateral dynamics, thereby ensuring stable driving in all directions.

Bosch is constantly developing ESP® further to extend its functions and adapt it to suit the specific requirements of individual car models. The focus of development lies in increasing driving safety while improving driving comfort and dynamics.

Bosch is also working on networking ESP® with other vehicle systems. Driving dynamics management and high quality combined functions with passive safety and driver assistance systems are the main priority.

For instance ESP® is becoming a key component of CAPS (Combined Active and Passive Safety). CAPS is a modular safety system that networks active and passive safety systems such as ESP®, ACC, airbag control and roll-over sensors. The interaction between such systems enables completely new safety functions. For example, such functions can autonomously detect dangerous situations, prepare the brake system for an emergency stop and warn the driver.

Bosch products and functions that improve road safety support the EU Commission's aim of halving the number of road deaths by the year 2010, bringing us a step closer to the vision of accident-free driving.