As SUVs and large vans continue to grow in popularity in secure transportation, it's important to understand the safety features that can effect their handling capabilities.

One such feature is Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade V's Skid Pad test number was .69 Gs, as a Car and Driver magazine article reported. According to the same article, the Escalade's lateral performance is hindered by an overly intrusive stability-control system, which is a common issue in General Motors' full-size SUVs. 

But the .69 Gs is a bit misleading.

Skid Pad Test

The Skid Pad test involves driving a vehicle in a circle with a known radius and increasing speed until the driver cannot maintain the radius. The MPH number is then applied to a simple equation (LA = V2 / (r * 15)) to determine the vehicle's cornering power measured in Gs.

Car magazines commonly use this Skid Pad number to indicate a vehicle's handling capability, where a higher number suggests a greater handling capacity.

This higher lateral acceleration number gives a skilled security driver more handling capacity to avoid a vehicle emergency.

THE ESC Effect

In a previous Security Driver Journal (Unraveling the Impact of ESC on Security Driving), we mentioned a test conducted by Car and Driver Magazine that measured that the ESC reduces the handling capability of the Suburban by 27%. 

The handling capability of the Suburban is .75 Gs, but the ESC takes over control of the Suburban at .55 Gs.  

Working out the math, it is unsurprising to find that .55 Gs is 70% of the Suburban's capability, so it makes sense that the ESC will take over when the "average driver" approaches 70% usage of the vehicle. 

So, if the ESC of the Escalade V takes over at .69 Gs, and we use the same number of 27%, that indicates that without the ESC, the Escalade would handle at approximately .85 Gs, which for a monster-size SUV is pretty good.

Doing the math, the Escalade takes control at about 80% of the vehicle's handling capacity.
 

The Impact of ESC on the Security Driver

As the International Security Driver Association has emphasized in past Journals, understanding how ESC affects a security driver's ability to use the vehicle's capacity is crucial. 

The issues for Security Drivers are the words average, problem, and the definition of safety. For an "average" driving population, the "problem "is created because their input into the vehicle (steering – gas pedal – braking) was contrary to the safe operation of the vehicle.

In a security "problem," the security driver is purposely driving the vehicle in a manner that will push the vehicle's ESC algorithm limit. 

The Index

Unraveling the Impact of ESC on Security Driving

Impressive Skidpad Tests for Executive Vehicles

Podcast Episode 166 – The Difference Between Handling and Cornering

Podcast Episode 165 – Safety, Security, and the Science of G's

About the Security Driver Journal

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