Motor vehicle accidents that result in a car or truck rolling over are amongst the most serious and deadly. Thanks to improved safety measures including stability control, many rollover accidents have been avoided and roughly 2,200 lives saved.

Results of a recent study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked at the benefits of stability control technology. The increase in the use of such technology came in response to pressure on automakers from the U.S. government after a spike in the number of fatal rollover accidents. Sports utility vehicles and light-weight trucks are especially susceptible to flipping or rolling over when involved in a collision.

In an effort to prevent rollover accidents, lawmakers passed legislation in 2007 requiring automakers to include stability control technology in all vehicles manufactured after September of 2011. In response, many automakers began including such technology in manufactured vehicles as early as 2008. As a result, many of the cars, trucks and SUVs Ohio drivers own are equipped with anti-rollover technology.

The recently released NHTSA report proves that the widespread adoption of stability control technology has saved lives. During 2010 alone, NHTSA estimates that the lives of 863 drivers and passengers were saved thanks to stability control technology. During 2010, an estimated 87 percent of SUVs and trucks and 76 percent of cars were equipped with such anti-rollover protection.

While the news related to the success of stability control technology in preventing rollover accidents is encouraging, it will likely be another 15 years before all motor vehicles currently on the road are equipped with this safety feature.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, “Data Shows Stability Control Saved 2,200 Lives In Three Years,” Joseph B. White, Nov. 30 2012