"For most drivers ESC isn't likely to activate frequently. For example, it won't prevent most of the fender-bender crashes

Make sure your next vehicle is equipped with electronic stability control, it's a lifesaver. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

that occur so often in stop-and-go traffic," says Susan Ferguson, Institute senior vice president for research. "ESC is designed to help a driver in the relatively rare event of loss of control at high speed or on a slippery road."

Together these studies indicate that widespread application of ESC could save more than 7,000 American lives per year; and another 700 in Canada if you go by the 10 percent population rule. If all vehicles on U.S. roads had ESC, it might prevent as many as 800,000 of the 2 million or so single-vehicle crashes that occur each year. Incidentally, about half of the 28,000 fatal passenger vehicle crashes that occur each year in the U.S. involve a single vehicle.

Moral of the story: make sure your next vehicle is equipped with electronic stability control, it's a lifesaver.