The potential effects of Electronic Stability Control interventions on rural road crashes in Australia: Simulation of real world crashes

Abstract

Twenty crash scenarios were developed based on actual rural road crashes obtained from an in-depth crash database. With the assistance of Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty. Ltd., the scenarios were simulated using vehicle models with and without Electronic Stability Control (ESC) fitted. In two of the scenarios, no simulation was necessary as the driver made no attempt to avoid a collision. In six scenarios, the attempt at simulation was unsuccessful. For the twelve remaining simulations that were successful, ESC was found to prevent a collision in ten cases and reduce the severity of a collision in the other two. Output plots from the simulations showing the timing and level of interventions enabled an analysis of how ESC was able to prevent or lower the severity of a collision.