| The Electronic Stabilization Program and the | | | | it can brake a certain wheel, or both of the |
| Traction Control System are two very | | | | actions at the same time. The Stability |
| important elements which car manufacturers | | | | Programs are commonly used in combination |
| introduced on their model to improve their | | | | with the traction control systems, but in |
| stability, handling and safety. | | | | addition to the latter, it also monitors the |
| | | | lateral movement of the vehicle. |
| The ESP (Electronic Stability System) has | | | | |
| become lately very popular among car | | | | Such stability systems have been proven to |
| producers, but because of marketing and | | | | greatly increase car safety in extreme |
| trademarks, it may be found under different | | | | situations. It can calculate and monitor the |
| names (GE calls if Stabilitrak, for example, | | | | car's parameters way faster than any driver |
| while Nissan uses the name VDC - Vehicle | | | | would do and it will take actions |
| Dynamic Control). But the common name is ESP | | | | accordingly. The phenomenon of under steer |
| and it is the most used one. | | | | and oversteer and greatly reduced if the car |
| | | | is equipped with a stability program. But you |
| There are a series of sensors which establish | | | | should not overhaul such systems, because |
| many times per second the rotational movement | | | | they have to obey the laws of physics, and if |
| of the car, its speed, the angel you rotate | | | | you enter very fast into a corner, your car's |
| the steering wheel as well as other such | | | | direction will not be corrected. |
| parameters. The purpose of the monitoring is | | | | |
| for the system's computer to determine if the | | | | The Traction Control System (or TCS) is |
| vehicle is being driven on the intended way. | | | | implemented in a car to avoid the wheels from |
| Let's take the over steer situation, which | | | | slipping the moment you accelerate. It was |
| occurs when the car is performing a cornering | | | | first introduced in 1986 and nowadays most |
| and the rear wheels are sliding. If this | | | | new cars have this security feature. |
| occurs, the sensors will detect this and the | | | | |
| computer will reduce the engine's power and | | | | ABS limits the wheels from slipping while |
| some braking pressure will be applied to the | | | | braking powerfully. In opposition, TCS is |
| front wheel on the outside. This wheel is the | | | | used to allow you to have more grip while |
| main element which, by applying some breaking | | | | accelerating. Its sensors will detect if a |
| to it, is used to put the car back on the | | | | wheel is slipping and the system will either |
| intended direction. The ESP works in two | | | | reduce engine power, either slightly brake |
| ways: it can either reduce engine power, or | | | | that wheel. |