| Cars come with so many driver assistance systems | | | | conquering ECU [electronic computer unit] that controls |
| these days it is hard to know which is which. In this | | | | the car. When a wheel starts to spin faster than the |
| article, we take a look at what traction control and | | | | other three, the traction control system will slow it |
| electronic stability control systems are and how they | | | | down by slightly triggering the brake on the wheel in |
| differ. | | | | question. This works to effectively stop slides or skids |
| The Lamborghini's of the 1970s were beautiful cars. As | | | | just before they become a major problem. Some |
| you might imagine, they were also extremely fast. | | | | traction control systems will also reduce the power |
| Despite their appearance, however, they were scary | | | | being supplied to the wheel in question. |
| to drive. You could go unbelievably fast, but it felt like | | | | Most people mistakenly think a traction control system |
| the car could take off in any direction at any time. It | | | | and electronic stability system are the same thing. |
| took a might brave or stupid person to drive one of | | | | They are not. The electronic stability control system |
| the beasts very fast. | | | | [ESC] does not deal with wheel spin, but total car |
| Modern car designers and engineers have focused on | | | | control. The system monitors the wheels, but also your |
| car control as a major issue. The good news is | | | | steering wheel, the pitch of your car to one side or |
| they've come up with some serious inventive systems | | | | another and acceleration. If it determines the car is |
| to assist drivers. From anti-locking brake systems to | | | | turning too much or too little, it will adjust the power to |
| cars that parallel park themselves, things have never | | | | certain wheels and apply the brakes on other wheels |
| been better. To systems that really help and are often | | | | to compensate. Let's consider an example: |
| confused are the traction control and electronic stability | | | | You are driving down a road in the rain. You come up |
| control system. Let's take a look. | | | | on a left hand turn a bit fast. You turn and the back |
| Traction control systems have been with us in one | | | | end of the car starts to spin around to your right. The |
| form or another for a long time. They really were | | | | ESC system automatically takes action. It will active |
| heavily developed in Formula One open wheel racing | | | | the brake on the front right wheel and perhaps add a |
| where teams spend upwards of $400 million a year | | | | bit of power the left rear wheel if your car allows for it. |
| on extremely high tech cars. In fact, the systems were | | | | This will effectively stop the back end of the car from |
| developed to such an extreme that cars hardly | | | | continuing to swing around and save you from a |
| slowed down at all on the track. This resulted in a ban | | | | wreck. Pretty amazing, eh? |
| of all traction control systems, but the technology is | | | | If you are looking for safety in your car, you do not |
| standard on most cars sold to the public now. | | | | have to choose between traction control and |
| A traction control system works by monitoring the spin | | | | electronic stability systems. Get both and throw in |
| rate of each wheel. This is done through the all | | | | anti-locking brakes as well! |