ESP Saved me yesterday

[kprm77]

At about 0630 in the morning yesterday, it was still dark, damp, and possibly icy. I was travelling behind a Vectra (dual carriageway) approaching a roundabout. What I didn't notice (my fault, dozy git ) was a woman waiting to cross at a pelican crossing. The lights are about 50yards before the roundabout, and I hadn't really registered them in my mind as they had never been red before.

I thought the Vectra was going to go through, though he slammed on his/her brakes at the last second. I had to do an emergency brake - I would have still hit him (just) so I steered into the outside lane. There was no hint at all of the car losing traction or control. It just came to a very quick halt before the pelican crossing.

If I'd been in my old Saab 9000, I would have probably gone sideways into the back of the Vectra!

Very glad I had the ESP on the car - saved me from my cr4p driving, and a probably minor shunt that would have been my fault

I'm assuming it is the ESP that does this - is the ESP / TCS and ABS all part of the same system - ish? Think I've got ASR and EBD too, though no idea what they are. Anyway, glad I have them I'll add it to the list of must haves for my next car....

[Babs]

The ESP with use EBD to trigger the ABS to brake certain wheels to stop you from spinning

[ScoobyChris]

That might well just have been the ABS doing its job as it's designed specifically for an emergency lane-change style manouevre. You should have felt the ABS pulsing through the brake pedal at the time (although you may have been preoccupied )

ESP really comes into play when the car is sliding at an angle and that's when you need it to individually brake wheels to get/keep the car going in the direction the front wheels are pointing.

Chris

[auroan]

Yup, I agree with Chris, def ABS doing it's job more than ESP

[John Kenyon]

That's what all the electronics are for - pulling you out of the proverbial, when you're not quite with it !

[Burnsey]

The ESP would have kicked in if you hadn't touched the brakes and went through say an S bend and the back wanted to step out - Very thing happended to me up North on black ice. I streered through and didn't touch the brakes car did what it was asked. Very clever, and I'd say essential in a Superb. Got an Octy II now so feel a bit more connected with the road.