Europe seeks to make ESC standard from 2012

摘要

From 2012, the European Commission wants any new cars or commercial vehicle models to have ESC and tyres with low rolling resistance and pressure monitoring systems as standard. OEMs will then have two years to apply the technologies to the rest of their ranges. From 2013, the EC wants all trucks and buses to be equipped with advance emergency braking and lane departure warning systems. The measures are part of efforts to harmonise its safety regulations with the UN standards, while reducing road deaths and cutting CO_2 emissions. European Commission vice-president Giinter Verheugen said: "We're improving road safety and promoting fuel efficiency. We're also simplifying legislation, presenting an integrated policy for safety, the environment and industry." But because the EC proposes replacing more than 150 existing directives with a single regulation, its introduction could take longer than normal. Before becoming law, the European Parliament and member states must first agree to this principle. It's a slow process with no fixed timeline and it will delay work on the technical details that engineers will need.