Download the Transport
Canada Electronic
Stability Control
(ESC) brochure here 
Compiled below is a list of the 15 most frequently asked questions about ESC:
1) What does ESC stand for?
2) What is ESC?
3) How does it work?
4) Will it interfere with my driving?
5) Does ESC really help prevent crashes?
6) Will ESC completely prevent my vehicle from losing control?
7) How is ESC different than ABS or anti-lock brakes?
8) Why does ESC have so many different names?
9) How do I add ESC to my car?
10) Why don't all vehicles have ESC?
11) Can I buy a vehicle with ESC right now?
12) I'm not sure if my vehicle has ESC, how do I check?
13) Is there a list of ESC-equipped vehicles available?
14) Will ESC add to the cost of a vehicle?
15) Does CAA endorse ESC?
1) What does ESC stand for?
ESC stands for Electronic Stability Control.
2) What is ESC?
ESC is a safety technology that provides built-in stability and control to help drivers avoid crashes by reducing the likelihood of skidding.
3) How does it work?
ESC uses the vehicle’s brakes to automatically correct oversteer or understeer – this helps prevent skids and loss of control. ESC can also reduce engine power to reduce wheel spin in slippery weather.
4) Will it interfere with my driving?
No. ESC is a passive safety system that only activates as required in loss of control situations. Action taken by the ESC system on a vehicle is often undetectable by the driver. ESC does not interfere with regular driving.
5) Does ESC really help prevent crashes?
Yes. According to Transport Canada, ESC could reduce certain types of collisions in Canada by 30%. This would translate into 225 fewer deaths and 755 fewer serious injuries in Canada.
6) Will ESC completely prevent my vehicle from losing control?
No. As effective as ESC is, it cannot prevent all situations that may result in a loss of control, particularly if the driver is driving in an aggressive or dangerous manner. ESC should be viewed as a safety enhancement that can greatly reduce the likelihood of skidding, but not as a guaranteed skid-avoidance system.
7) How is ESC different than ABS or anti-lock brakes?
ESC is an enhancement to the anti-lock braking system. While the vehicle’s anti-lock brakes are effective at stopping forward motion, ESC is effective at limiting and preventing a sideways motion.
Sideways motions are often encountered when a vehicle’s tires spin or when the vehicle skids while on the road, particularly while turning. Whereas anti-lock brakes will help you with stop your vehicle, ESC will help you regain control in the event you oversteer or understeer a turn, or if your wheels lose traction in a skid.
8) Why does ESC have so many different names?
ESC is a generic name; however, due to branding efforts, different automobile manufacturers have given ESC slightly different names. Some examples of ESC-related names include: VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist), DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), Stabilitrak, etc. Of note, irrespective of the name, all these systems make use of ESC.
9) How do I add ESC to my car?
You don’t. ESC is only available on vehicles that had it installed directly at the factory. It is not possible to add ESC to a vehicle as it requires advanced computer systems, circuitry, and mechanics that cannot be added through modifications.
10) Why don’t all vehicles have ESC?
ESC is a newer technology that is constantly evolving. Research has now proven that ESC is effective and more and more vehicles are introducing ESC as standard equipment. To speed up this process, Transport Canada will soon be proposing a regulation that will require all light vehicles sold in Canada (as of 2011) to be equipped with ESC as standard equipment.
11) Can I buy a vehicle with ESC right now?
Yes. Most manufacturers currently offer new vehicles that are equipped with ESC.
12) I’m not sure if my vehicle has ESC, how do I check?
Consult your vehicle owner’s guide to determine if your vehicle has ESC. If you are unsure, please contact your dealer.
13) Is there a list of ESC-equipped vehicles available?
Yes. Please see the ESC vehicles listing on the Transport Canada web site.
14) Will ESC add to the cost of a vehicle?
Yes, but marginally. As ESC becomes standard equipment on more and more vehicles, the cost will continue to drop. Current ESC vehicles already have ESC built into the overall vehicle’s price structure and are often priced quite similarly (if not the same cost) as vehicles without ESC.
15) Does CAA endorse ESC?
Absolutely! As Canada’s largest member-based association, the CAA is committed to keeping Canadian drivers safe and we believe that ESC will play a significant role in reducing vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
CAA also held an ESC demonstration event in Toronto to showcase the benefits of ESC to motorists and the media. Please visit our media page for photos and videos from our ESC event.