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Continental Teves Cautions Policymakers on Pending Rollover Ratings

21 September 2000

Continental Teves Cautions Policymakers on Pending Rollover Ratings

   Urges Common-Sense Approach to Consider Current and Future Technologies

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 One of the nation's leading suppliers
of automotive braking systems, electronic stability controls and chassis
systems today cautioned federal regulators and the Congress that a proposed
consumer information program on vehicle stability is too simplistic, does not
consider real-world scenarios, and could stifle new technologies designed to
prevent vehicle rollovers.
    The proposed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule
would rate vehicles based on a "stability factor" and -- similar to the
agency's frontal crash test program -- vehicles would earn "stars" for their
performance.
    "Consumers deserve access to meaningful and complete information on all
areas of automotive safety.  The proposed rollover rating misses the mark,
however, because it does not consider stability technologies that may help
prevent loss of control and vehicle rollovers.  By excluding on-board safety
devices and considering only vehicle CG height and track width, the rule will
not provide consumers with critical information on how their car or truck may
perform in real-world driving scenarios," said Mark Sowka, Vice President of
Continental Teves, speaking to the Washington Automotive Press Association.
    Sowka pointed out that most consumers understand that taller, narrower
vehicles are more likely to rollover, when compared to shorter, wider ones, if
all other factors are equal.  Limiting a new rollover rating to only that
basic data, he noted, will reinforce the incorrect perception that this is the
only -- or most predominant -- factor affecting the likelihood of a rollover
event.
    Sowka's strongest concerns about the NHTSA proposal center on the fact
that such an approach ignores the reality that advanced technologies like the
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can lessen the likelihood of a rollover.
According to Sowka, "It's clear that braking and stability technologies like
ESP can limit loss of control situations that often lead to rollovers."
    As developed by Continental Teves, ESP works like an invisible co-pilot
that intuitively knows when a driver loses vehicle control, and then it
engages to keep the vehicle stable and on track.  The heart of the system is a
micro-processor that takes information from a number of sensors and determines
when a vehicle is behaving in a way contrary to the driver's intentions.  If
such a condition is detected, like a sudden swerve that could lead to a
rollover, it automatically applies brake pressure to a select wheel or wheels
to help the driver maintain or restore control.
    A recent Dateline NBC feature described ESP technology as an, "amazing new
technology to help stay in control of the car when it hits a skid...experts
can steer the car out of a skid, but for the rest of us, there's a new
technology (ESP)."
    Sowka concluded, "The laws of physics dictate what happens in a rollover
incident.  However, ESP, combined with anti-lock braking systems that are
commonly in use today, offers real promise to help prevent loss of control and
resulting rollovers."