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Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a safety system which aims to prevent loss of control in emergency manoeuvres.

ESC monitors steering wheel angle, rate of turn (or 'yaw rate') of the vehicle, lateral acceleration and wheel speed. When the ESC system detects that the vehicle is not responding correctly to steering inputs by the driver - because the tyres are starting to lose grip - it applies the brakes on individual wheels to turn the car in the direction the driver is aiming.

The video above demonstrates the benefits of ESC in an emergency situation, using a test vehicle which has been modified to allow the ESC system to be disabled.