Ever wondered what car safety might have to do with the ability to read minds? Me neither! At least, until I sat down at my computer this week determined to
share with you information about one of the latest motor vehicle industry innovations aimed at saving more lives on our roads.
You see, my computer and I have an understanding. It does what I want it to do, when I want it to, no arguments.
I don't love it, I don't spend time with it unless I absolutely have to and I am not interested in finding out about new and interesting ways that I could be using it.
As you could probably guess, I do enjoy the immediacy of email and in more recent times I have made friends with Google - but that's about the extent of my computer usage.
On Monday however, I must admit my computer did present me with a good laugh.
Many new cars now come standard with a new invention called an Electronic Stability Program or ESP.
Here at Honda we call it Vehicle Stability Assist but industry-wide, the recognised language is ESP.
It's being hailed as the most important improvement in car safety since introduction of the seatbelt.
Thinking you might like to know more about something that can better protect you and your loved ones while driving, I fired up Google and entered into the search with my two best typing fingers "What is ESP?".
I waited for the wisdom to come.
And then...
"ESP: Clairvoyance, apparent power to perceive things that are not present to the senses".
Huh?? Oh....whoops! ESP also stands for Extra Sensory Perception!
Unless you would like me tell you about my one and only encounter with a Clairvoyant many, many moons ago at the Lord Forrest Hotel, Bunbury, I'll get on with filling you in about ESP, as in, Electronic Stability Program.
It was developed about five years ago in Europe and helps you stay in control of your car when you skid, swerve suddenly or road conditions change.
It's kind of like the next step up from ABS or Anti-Lock Braking Systems.
European experts estimate that up to 40 per cent of single vehicle crashes could be avoided if all cars had ESP.
ESP can:
Unfortunately though, you can't just buy an ESP and fit it to your old car - it's only available on selected new cars.
So if you're out shopping for a new car, ask the salesman about ESP. If you are kind enough to visit us at Bunbury Honda, ask us about VSA.
According to our research, it will be saving a lot of lives on the roads this year.
If you would like to know more about ESC (or VSA) follow this Link.
