The voting came at the end of several months of talks between EU officials and manufacturer representatives. As was expected, most of them asked for the law to come into effect after 2012, even if there were a few who agreed the deadline should be rather 2010.
The law will allow current models to be produced without ESP until 2018. By that time, new requirements might be added to the law, such as the use of an advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) or tire pressure monitoring system (TMPS). For trucks, it may become compulsory to be fitted with lane departure warning systems .
One of the most common active safety systems in the world, ESP still has a long way to go before becoming part of a vehicle and stop being an optional feature, as is the case with some low cost European vehicles, such as the Dacia Logan.
According to the EU, implementing ESP as standard will help prevent the death of some 4,000 people each year and stop another 100,000 from getting hurt in car crashes. According to studies conducted by both Bosch and other parties, accidents caused by sideslip can be reduced by up to 80 percent.
The first recommendation to introduce ESP as standard was made by the EU in May last year. According to EurotaxGlass's, an European automotive business intelligence group, the ESP is the most important safety feature after the seatbelt.
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