INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April 23, 2009) – As part of its commitment in meeting the highest fire truck standards in the industry, International® DuraStar® and WorkStar® fire trucks and emergency vehicles now offer the latest advancements in electronic stability control technology.

“On average, there are more than 5,000 emergency vehicle crashes every year,” said Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president, North American sales operations. “With this latest stability system, we can provide maximum rollover mitigation and help prevent loss-of-control situations that often result in rollovers on dry, wet, snow- and ice-covered roads.”

International brand emergency vehicles are available with the Bendix® ESP® Electronic Stability Program, which delivers full-stability performance for medium-duty and severe service vehicles in a variety of applications — from ambulance and fire trucks to utility, government and construction vehicles. Bendix ESP is the first, widely-available ABS-based truck stability system capable of recognizing and assisting with both rollover and vehicle under- and over-steer driving situations and a variety of road conditions.

The Bendix ESP stability system continuously monitors a variety of vehicle parameters and sensors to determine if the vehicle is reaching a critical stability threshold. When such a situation develops, the Bendix ESP system will quickly and automatically intervene to assist the driver. The system can selectively apply vehicle brakes, as well as de-throttle the engine typically faster than the driver.

“With so much on the line for the paramedics and firefighters who protect us every day, it’s critical that our vehicles have the latest advancements in safety technology for these life-saving occupations,” added Hebe.