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Electronic stability programme (ESP) is now compulsory in all newly registered passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Europe, as announced by the European Union (EU). The move is effective onwards from November 1 2014, with the ruling set to be enacted on other classes of vehicles a year later.

Up to 84% of cars sold in Europe in 2014 were equipped with ESP but worldwide, the figures only register at a paltry 59%. According to studies, up to 80% of skidding accidents can be prevented if all vehicles were equipped with ESP.

Statistics gathered from a study conducted by Bosch have shown that in 2011, ESP has helped to avert more than 33,000 accidents and saved more than 1,000 lives in the EU despite ESP being only installed on roughly 40% of vehicles during that period.

President of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division, Gerhard Steiger claims, "ESP is an unparalleled success story that we hope to replicate outside Europe as well." Other nations across the globe such as Japan, Korea, Russia and Turkey set to implement a similar move in the coming years.

Back in September 2011, ESP was made mandatory for all vehicles in the United States and Canada with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4.5 metric tons. Apart from that, Australia and Israel have also implemented the need for ESP to be equipped on all new cars.