Driving on snow with ESP?
ESP is an electronic stability program that most new cars are equipped with as standard today. In combination with other programs, it improves your driving safety even more, especially on snow.
More and more security systems are being built into our cars. There is the anti-lock braking system ABS, the anti-slip regulation ASR and now also the electronic stability program ESP. These systems have been proven to prevent a great many accidents. ESP often intervenes to save lives, especially in corners that are driven too fast.
Safe in the snow
- Of course, in all weather and road conditions, an appropriate, sensible driving style always applies. Adjust your speed in good time and remember: The liability of your bikes in snow compared to a dry road surface is only approx. 30 %. Also switch on in good time Winter tires, because of the tread depth and the better driving characteristics in cool temperatures.
- The ESP mainly monitors the lateral dynamics, i.e. it controls safe cornering, especially understeer and oversteer. It intervenes immediately if you are too fast and there is a risk of your car swerving in the back or in the front. For example, the electronics monitor each wheel and then independently brake the correct wheel until cornering stability is restored.
- The electronic program also monitors ABS and ARS and can sometimes lead to a misjudgment in the snow. However, this only happens when driving uphill in the snow, as the system wants to prevent the wheels from spinning. It throttles the engine power and brakes individual wheels so that you can suddenly stop on the mountain.
- To prevent this and maintain your momentum on the mountain, you must switch off the ESP in good time. There is a button in your car with the letters "ESP" on it and an indicator light that warns you when the system is switched off. If you have "climbed" the mountain with great caution, press the ESP button again immediately so that you can safely continue your journey. The control lamp also shows when the electronic stability program is currently intervening.
- Sometimes it is also necessary to switch off the ESP when moving off in snow and ice, because this also causes the ASR to fail. This is necessary on particularly smooth surfaces because otherwise no wheel would turn. In normal, non-slip snow, it is not necessary to switch off, because here the systems even support starting.
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Always adapt your driving style to the conditions. So you will reach your destination safely.
ESP is a central security system
- It monitors a large number of processes and programs in your car and thus mainly ensures safe cornering. It is linked to ABS, ASR, GMR, engine control, brake force control and many other things, among other things.
- If you are interested, you can find the whole complex on the Internet ESP system see how everything works and offers you the highest possible level of driving safety. In conjunction with your exemplary personal driving style, you will always reach your destination in good health.
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