Electronic Stability Control may become compulsory in vehicles throughout the European Union by 2011 – two years later then first mooted.
The European Commission is pressing ahead with plans to make the system, which uses clever electronics and a car's braking system to prevent skidding during emergency manoeuvres, compulsory across Europe .
But there are concerns that the average £200 cost of the system would make buying a car prohibitively expensive in poorer nations under the EU such as Romania, although the 2011 deadline will give carmakers enough time to further reduce costs.
'If we are serious about saving lives on European roads, then all 27 Member States should set a deadline," said Viviane Reding, the EU's Commissioner for the Information Society and Media .
"If fast progress cannot be made voluntarily, I stand ready to intervene," the commissioner added.
In addition, the EU is also eager to introduce eCall - the in-vehicle emergency call system – into all new cars in the union as standard by 2010.
The emergency system works by using an in-car recorder, which transmits data back to a central control centre. For example, in the event of the airbags being set off, the control centre would receive the car’s exact GPS location and a call for immediate assistance.
