ESP to become mandatory in Europe?

• European Commission to vote
• Proposal expected to get go-ahead
• Low-resistance tyres may be mandatory, too

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The European Commission will decide this week whether to push ahead with proposals to make electronic stability control (ESC) technology mandatory on all new vehicles sold.

In normal driving conditions, stability control can reduce the number of accidents by around 20%, the Commission said, ahead of a decision this Friday.

It has long been expected that the EU would call for the mandatory of fitting of ESC from September 2011.

Other initiatives expected to be adopted include the mandatory fitment of low-resistance tyres, to reduce vehicle emissions. However, the exact definition of a low-resistance tyre remains to be stipulated.