NHTSA's Light Vehicle Handling and ESC Effectiveness Research Program

In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created its Light Vehicle Handling and electronic stability control (ESC) research program. When first conceived, this program emphasized the development of test maneuvers and analysis methods capable of objectively quantifying handling. At the time, it was envisioned the publication of such results would complement the Agency’s NCAP dynamic rollover resistance ratings, thereby allowing consumers to better understand the potential tradeoffs between dynamic rollover stability and good handling. However, as the 2004 testing proceeded, the Agency’s vision of quantifying handling was replaced by the desire to research the safety benefits of ESC. One of the primary objectives of this refocused effort was to develop a way to objectively assess ESC effectiveness on the test track. The research discussed in this paper examined the ESC effectiveness of five vehicles using twelve maneuvers. Maneuvers are described and their ability to satisfy three ESC effectiveness criteria is discussed. Maneuvers utilized automated and driver-based steering inputs. If driver-based steering was required, multiple drivers were used to assess input variability. To quantify the effects of ESC on handling test outcome, each vehicle was evaluated with ESC enabled and disabled.

• Record URL:
  http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-01/esv/esv19/05-0221-O.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Forkenbrock, Garrick J
  • Elsasser, Devin
  • O'Harra, Bryan
• Conference:
  • 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV)
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2005-6-6 to 2005-6-9
• Publication Date: 2005-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: Proceedings - 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV), Washington, D.C., June 6-9, 2005

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driving; Light vehicles; Rollover crashes; Test tracks; Vehicle tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driving maneuvers; Electronic stability control
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01066476
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 05-0221
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 27 2007 9:58AM