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BOSCH WINS TOP ROYAL AWARD
Bosch has won a prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for Driver and Passenger Safety, for its development of Electronic Stability Programme( ESP), the braking system that can prevent vehicles getting out of control.
ESP is the latest in an evolving line of electronic braking systems, which started with ABS as long as 25 years ago this year. Since that time, traction control and now ESP have made significant contributions to road safety.
Presenting the award at a special braking demonstration event held at MIRA on Tuesday, John Lennox a director of the Awards scheme and Head of Transport for the British Standards Institute, sponsors of the award, said: "The dramatic effect that advance braking systems have on crash reduction demonstrates the innovative and forward thinking approach to road safety that the BSI stands for and therefore we are delighted to be able to present the award."
Receiving the award, Manfred Müller, Managing Director for Bosch Original Equipment in the UK, said: "Two major studies have proven that ESP is able to reduce accident rates by significant numbers and, because it is of most help when, for whatever reason, the driver has lost control of their vehicle, it actually is best at preventing the most serious
crashes. We are continuing to develop the system and you can expect to see new benefits that help in common situations where driving can be difficult, such as wet weather, hills and stop-start traffic."
Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards recognise outstanding innovation and achievement in the fields of design, education and law enforcement. They are organised by RoadSafe, a partnership of leading British motor and transport companies, the Government and road safety professionals, which aims to promote safer road use and reduce deaths and injuries caused on the road.
As the world's largest producer of brake control systems, Bosch was the first supplier to begin mass production of ESP in 1995. Bosch has played the leading role in developing electronic control, starting with ABS 25 years ago this year.
ESP comprises sensors around the vehicle which report the steering instructions given by the driver and the actual motion of the vehicle to a central controller (dedicated computer). If it detects a possible deviation, the ESP controller intervenes, braking individual wheels and reducing engine power to ensure the vehicle stays on a safe course.
Such has been the impact of ABS that it becomes a compulsory fit on all new vehicles in Western Europe from 2004.
Source:
Newspress; October 10, 2003
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