New Zealand Makes ESC Mandatory On All Imports
New Zealand is to make electronic stability control for all new and used cars imported into the country. It is one of the first vehicle-import market, outside of the EU, to mandate the life-saving technology.
The way that New Zealand applies standards to their vehicle imports could serve as a model for other countries. Many importers still rely on age limits instead of qualitative regulations.
ESC is a crash prevention system that intervenes if it detects that a vehicle is about to skid or lose traction. It is able to independently control the braking of each wheel to correct the vehicle and pull it back into line if it is skidding out of control. International research indicates that ESC has the potential to reduce loss-of-control crashes by between 20 and 30 percent. For Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), the potential reduction is even greater.
New Zealand’s Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse said: “ESC has been described as the most significant advance in vehicle safety since the seatbelt. The increase in ESC fitment over the next two decades is expected to prevent 432 deaths and 1,992 serious injuries, including 22 deaths and 102 serious injuries prevented as a direct result of the proposal to mandate.”
Commenting on Minister Woodhouse’s announcement, David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAP, said: “Global NCAP welcomes the decision of the New Zealand Government to mandate ESC for all new and used cars from 2015 and 2020 respectively. New Zealand is setting an example that other countries should follow. Encouraging use of ESC, a highly effective life-saving technology, is among the main recommended actions of the Global Plan for the UN Decade of Action. It’s great to see New Zealand leading the way to safer cars among importing nations.”
From 1 July 2015, all new light passenger and goods vehicles will require ESC. From 1 March 2016, all used SUVs and off-road vehicles inspected at the border will require the technology. From 1 March 2018 the same will apply to all passenger cars with engine capacity greater than two litres. From 1 March 2018, the rules applies to all other used vehicles being imported.
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