Fleets are being urged to help promote the benefits of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) being fitted to all new cars.

European crash test experts are encouraging fleets to put pressure on manufacturers to fit the safety technology as standard to all new cars.

And leasing company ALD Automotive also wants firms to have ESC as a mandatory feature on company cars.

The system uses automatic braking of individual wheels to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle in the event of a skid.

The calls come as part of a Europe-wide “Choose ESC” campaign, which is led by the European Commission and the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) among others, and was launched in Rome this week.

ALD marketing director David Yates said: “We would, wherever possible, encourage companies to have ESC as a mandatory feature within their car fleet policies, particularly as more manufacturers are offering the technology either as standard or an option.”

Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Industry Research Centre, calculates that 400 lives and 3,000 serious injuries on UK roads could be saved if all new vehicles were equipped with ESC.