[Cagey]

A test vehicle with its electronic stability control turned off slides over cones during a test in Auburn Hills, Mich., in this July 16, 2003 file photo. The government, impressed by the promise of anti-rollover technology, is planning to require automakers to include electronic stability control devices on all new vehicles in the coming years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to unveil proposed rules for stability control on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006 that also will include testing standards for auto manufacturers. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

[Petronski]

As long as it has an override switch...

[scooter2]

They need to have anti-roll over systems on those up-armored Humvees. Those things will roll over if you even sneeze at them. One of the bad side affects of adding the armor was to shift the CG much higher.

[Izzy Dunne]

SUVs and other vehicles with high centers of gravity have been susceptible to rollovers.

Is it possible that the "high center of gravity" actually has something to do with the tendency to roll over?

What can we as a nation do about the rising center of gravity of automobiles?

Maybe we could ENGINEER THEM DIFFERENTLY?

[LIConFem]

Training wheels!

[M1Tanker]

So how much more will this make autos cost? How much of the vehicle's discretionary power will this use (will a hybrid or electic car have enough power for the system)? What are the effects on fuel economy? What is the rest of the story?

Living in Michigan, I know why most accidents are caused: Bad Drivers!!!!!!!
-Driving too fast for conditions or driver skill
-Not using turn signals (I *think* they come standard on cars.)
-Not checking blind spots, over aggressive driving, cutting across 3 lanes at once without looking (and no turn signals)
-Yapping on a cell phone or looking at something else while driving
-Not taking care of vehicles (all those years of command maintenance in the Army taught me that at least)
-Driving Drunk/Stoned
-Racing on the roads
-Cutting off semi-trucks

Yesterday, a rain storm contributed to an accident involving almost 30 cars and at least one truck on I-696, northwest of Detroit. "Contributed" because I know that many people were probably driving like maniacs.

I'm dreading winter..... It only gets worse. Making an "idiot proof" car only causes the idiots to prove you wrong.

[Sarajevo]

Wouldn't it be easier to simply slow down and drive defensively instead of mandating a new and expensive technology?

[Moonman62]

Now people can drive with even less care.

[Mr Rogers]

I've got a Miata. It would suck to be in a roll over accident...but it is hard to think of a scenario that would cause it to roll over in the first place.

[The Great RJ]

Better yet would be to require all vehicles to have anti-lock brakes. I avoided accidents on several occasions because the anti-lock brakes on my vehicle allowed me to keep in control during a hard stop.

[jrp]

"These are staggering statistics compared to most safety technologies that are installed on the vehicles today. This technology will save lives," said William Kozyra, president and CEO of Continental Automotive Systems, North America, a leading supplier of stability control.

Oh yeah, no conflict of interest here.

More complex crap to drive up the cost of purchasing and maintaining a car. No safety systems can make up for roads full of barely competent, careless and distracted drivers.

[DoctorMichael]

No need to worry!

The cost of this Gubmint mandated add-on will be passed onto the consumer.

[Gone GF]

Simply wearing a seatbelt would save a lot of lives in rollovers. Always seeing "he was thrown from the car" in those accidents.

[GingisK]

...anti-rollover technology...

A low center of gravity is not high technology.

Limiting speed and limiting tight turns are the only ways that rollover could be prevented outside of the driver's control. I expect either of those would be more dangerous than the current situation.

It would be better to train drivers before issuing a drivers license rather than issuing them to anyone with a temperature of 98.6.

[osideplanner]

I thought this was about my deoderant.

[RightWhale]

Some drivers already act as if the car drives itself. This feature will allow not only cellphone usage but widespread farding and dining, and probably FR posting exchanges of unbridled ferocity, during the commute to the mall.