FYI - MOTORING GIZMOS EXPLAINED

Modern cars are filled with lots of electronic driving aids but sadly they are often called silly names that hardly slip off the tongue. Condensing ‘electronic stability program’ to its acronym ESP helps - but it still doesn’t explain what it means!

Lets find out what some of the key motoring gizmos and acronyms mean.

ESP

Also known as ESC (electronic stability control) and sometimes DSC (dynamic) is now fitted as standard to new cars as a result of an EU directive (since November 2014). It is a great safety aid that helps keep a car travelling in the direction the driver wants - especially on bends.

This system can apply brakes to any of the four wheels individually if it detects that the car is not going where the steering and accelerator pedal would suggest. There is complicated maths used here but very clever people have worked out the fine detail.

What it means in real life is that when you go around a bend too quickly (or the car is losing grip) the system will apply brakes to the inner wheels to help the car make the turn.

BLIS

This is a great advance that alerts a driver of a vehicle in their blind spot. The blind spot is the area either side of the car not covered by its mirrors. The area that is usually checked when a driver does a shoulder, safety or lifesaver glance.

Lifesaver is a motorcyclists term and while blis is slowly coming to two wheels it is now on most car makers options list. A flashing light in or close to the side mirror where the hazard is lets the driver know of the potential danger of changing lane. Some systems have an audible warning too.

LANE KEEPING ASSIST

Originally developed for trucks this system uses a camera to see lane markings and when the car crosses the lines without using the indicator a vibration and audible warning will activate.

A brilliant innovation but sadly it is dependent on lane markings being up to scratch. In Ireland away from the main road network it can be hit and miss on rural roads... literally!