Although many commercial vehicles already have them, as of Aug. 1 it is mandated that all new Classes 7 and 8 tractors sold in the United States be equipped with electronic stability control systems.
Electronic stability control systems use sensors to anticipate possible rollover or loss-of-control events.
The final rule on the mandate was published in June 2015 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which estimates ESC will prevent 1,424 to 1,759 crashes per year resulting in 505 to 649 fewer injuries and 40 to 49 fewer fatalities. NHTSA added “Traffic tie-ups resulting from loss-of-control and rollover crashes also contribute to millions of dollars of lost productivity and excess energy consumption each year. This final rule will also result in significant monetary savings as a result of the prevention of property damage and travel delays.”
