The continued popularity of sport utility vehicles has led one auto company to work toward making them among the safest vehicles on the road. General Motorsis equipping all their Cadillac Escalades with Stabilitrak -- the first vehicle stability enhancement (VSE) system for a GM SUV. Vehicle stability enhancement systems are designed to identify a driver's intent by measuring the steering wheel angle, brake and throttle positions, and vehicle speed. If a vehicle's response does not match what the driver intended, the system may automatically apply or release a brake at the corners of the vehicle independently. It is important to understand that vehicle enhancement systems are just that -- enhancements. They cannot directly prevent rollover crashes but help a driver avoid the conditions that cause a rollover. With nearly 500,000 systems in customer hands, General Motors is a leader with crash avoidance systems which include, antilock braking systems (ABS), daytime running lamps (DRLs) and traction control, offering these systems in many market segments including mid-size cars and soon full-size SUVs. General Motors warns drivers not to let these systems take the place of sensible driving and stresses that the greatest opportunities to avoid crashes and injuries are to drive within posted speed limits, unimpaired and to always buckle up.
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