Analysis of road accidents has shown that an important portion of fatal crashes involving Commercial Vehicles are caused by rollovers.
ESC systems in Commercial Vehicles can reduce rollovers, severe understeer or oversteer conditions and minimize occurrences of jackknifing events.
Several studies have estimated that this positive effect of ESC on road safety is substantial. In Europe, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is expected to prevent by far the most fatalities and injuries: about 3,000 fatalities (-14%), and about 50,000 injuries (-6%) per year.
In Europe, Electronic Stability Control Systems is mandatory for all vehicles (since Nov. 1st, 2011 for new types of vehicle and Nov. 1st, 2014 for all new vehicles), including Commercial Vehicles, Buses, Trucks and Trailers.
On 2015, NHTSA published Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 136, Electronic Stability Control systems for heavy vehicles, requiring Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems on truck tractors and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds) for implementation in 2017.
In South America, CONTRAN Resolution 641/2016 establishes mandatory installation of Electronic Stability and Rollover Control in Commercial Vehicles, including Trailers (Jan. 1st, 2022 for new types of vehicle and Jan. 1st, 2024 for all new vehicles). However there isn’t a Brazilian standard to validate the system and its performance shall comply with ECE R13 (Annex 21) or FMVSS 136, as applicable.
This paper shows a technical review regarding ESC function, its impact on Commercial Vehicles and clarifies the different systems available for trucks and trailers, considering the differences between stability control systems - full stability and roll-only stability. In addition it will show a comparative analysis between American and European requirements and procedures to validate these vehicles safely.