Chrysler News Follows Similar Announcements by Ford and GM

Following a lead set by General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. that stated they would make electronic stability control systems standard on over 1.8 million SUVs next year, DaimlerChrysler AGs Chrysler Group will incorporate a standard anti-rollover system to its Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler branded SUVs, starting next year and completed by 2006.

Chrysler Group already offers Continental Teves Electronic Stability Program (ESP), now called Electronic Stability Control (ESC),

Following the other domestic brands lead, Chrysler Group will incorporate a standard anti-rollover system to all of its SUVs starting next year. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Chrysler Group already offers its Electronic Stability Control system on the 2005 Chrysler 300-Series and Crossfire, Dodge Magnum and Jeep Grand Cherokee as standard equipment. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

The good, albeit expensive news came on the same day the domestic automaker was celebrating the success of the Chrysler 300C having been chosen as

Exactly 2,639 motorists were killed in sport utilities in 2003 according federal government statistics. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

According to Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell, the automaker already had plans to increase its use of stability control and was going to announce it in coming months, but announcements by Ford and GM caused the need to make the information public sooner than later.

"We knew we had it, we just didnt want to talk about it," Quinnell commented.

How bad is the SUV rollover problem? Exactly 2,639 motorists were killed in sport utilities in 2003 according

Including stability control systems on all cars would reduce single-vehicle SUV crashes by 67 percent and single-car accidents by 30 percent. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

These statistics run contrary to popular belief, that SUVs are more prone to rollover than cars. According to a Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study, if all automakers were to install anti-rollover systems to every vehicle available up to 7,000 lives per year could be saved. The IIHS believes that fatal single-vehicle crashes could be reduced by 56 percent.

A similar study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in September of this year takes this claim even further, declaring that including stability control systems on all cars would reduce single-vehicle

The move by the big three domestic brands to include stability control on future SUVs is definitely a step in the right direction. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

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