The system, which greatly reduces the likelihood of a fatal car crash, is far more common in other European countries. According to Thatcham, the insurance research centre, approximately 380 lives could be saved each year on UK roads if three-quarters of cars were fitted with ESC.

Thatcham said progress on standard fitment had been made over the past year with a 7 per cent rise over 2006 levels but Britain still lagged behind other countries. In Germany 58 per cent of new cars are fitted with ESC and that figure rises to 75 per cent in Sweden. Matthew Avery, Thatcham's crash research manager, said: “Whilst we have seen some improvement of fitment levels, Thatcham's message to manufacturers is you know ESC can make a real difference in preventing accidents occurring and you have an obligation to fit this as standard.”