The U.S. Transportation Department recently proposed a mandate requiring electronic stability control in trucks and buses. Rollover crashes result in approximately 700 deaths each year. The U.S. Transportation Department expects that this mandate could significantly reduce this type of accident and the amount of deaths that result from it.
Electronic stability control systems utilize engine torque and separate, computer-controlled braking of wheels to help the driver maintain control in dangerous situations such as on slippery roads or during evasive maneuvers. Specifically, these systems hold wheels on the ground and prevent trailers from swinging.
As a Chicago trial attorney with extensive experience in automobile cases, I strongly support the Transportation Department's proposed mandate. Also, I am surprised that automakers have not yet implemented these stability control systems on their own. Any innovation that can make our nation's roads safer should be immediately embraced.
