This technical advisory procedure has been developed to provide operators with best-practice advice and extensive technical information on Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Roll Stability Control (RSC) technologies, and has been updated as at May 2016.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a term for any system that acts automatically to prevent loss-of-control movements on a powered truck by slowing the vehicle when dangerous movements are detected. ESC systems include both roll control and yaw control systems, and can correct potential oversteer, understeer and roll-over situations.
Roll control systems sense the lateral (sideways) acceleration of a vehicle, and will act to reduce the risk of rollover through reducing engine torque and briefly applying selected brakes.
Yaw control allows the driver to point the vehicle in the desired direction, with the brakes operating to assist the driver.
ESC is the most capable stability control system available, but can only be fitted to powered units such as prime movers. Often, the driver may not be aware that the system has activated.
A similar system, Roll Stability Control (RSC), can be fitted to trailers and also provides significant safety benefits. RSC provides roll control in a similar manner to ESC above, but does not include yaw control.
Both ESC and RSC function as an active safety system to allow a driver to maintain control of their vehicle with the aim of avoiding or reducing the impact of a rollover. Stability control systems will not prevent all rollover crashes, but will significantly reduce their likelihood.