Under what circumstances does ESP come into play?

[Benjamin]

ESP functions when a car is navigating sharp turns at high speeds or driving on slippery roads. It stands for Electronic Stability Program, a general term for systems or programs that enhance vehicle handling performance and effectively prevent loss of control when the car approaches its dynamic limits. The electronic stability program improves both the safety and handling of the vehicle. The ESP system consists of a control unit along with steering sensors, wheel sensors, skid sensors, and lateral acceleration sensors. These sensors, which include steering sensors, wheel sensors, skid sensors, lateral acceleration sensors, and sensors for the steering wheel, throttle, and brake pedals, are responsible for collecting data on the vehicle's state.

[DeHolden]

I've been driving for over a decade, and ESP can really save lives in critical moments. Last time when taking a high-speed curve on a rainy day, I clearly felt the rear of the car fishtail, but the steering automatically corrected itself. Only later did I realize it was the ESP intervening. It handles all the situations we commonly talk about - skidding, understeer, oversteer - like when tires spin during emergency braking on snow, or when the vehicle loses control during sudden steering to avoid an electric scooter that darts out. It uses sensors to monitor wheel speed, steering wheel angle, and vehicle attitude, and intervenes immediately when it detects something wrong, applying brakes to individual wheels or even reducing power. What many people don't know is that when you stomp on the accelerator on slippery surfaces, it also limits engine output to prevent you from spinning more. Just remember one thing: whenever the vehicle's attitude becomes uncontrolled, the ESP light will flash wildly to alert you.

[LeKingston]

I've seen too many car owners who treat the ESP button as a mere decoration during repairs. This system is on standby 24/7, especially useful in emergencies: for instance, when you suddenly hit a puddle at high speed and lose control of the steering, it immediately starts applying individual brake pressure to the wheels; when starting on a snowy slope and the drive wheels slip, it automatically limits torque output for you; or when taking a corner too fast and the car understeers toward the outer lane, it quietly brakes the inner rear wheel to help pull the car back in line. The most overlooked scenario is emergency lane changes—when you jerk the wheel and the car is about to skid sideways, it can stabilize the car's posture before it rolls over. However, remember to manually turn off ESP when you're stuck and need to get out, allowing the wheels to spin freely—this is very practical.

[NatalieFitz]

ESP is essentially an anti-skid system. It activates when the system detects a mismatch between the steering wheel's turned angle and the vehicle's actual turning path. There are three common scenarios: when turning too fast on rainy days and feeling the car sliding outward, it immediately brakes the outer wheels; when stomping the accelerator on icy roads but the car doesn't move, it automatically limits engine RPM to prevent wheel spin; and when swerving sharply to avoid obstacles causing the rear to fishtail, it stabilizes the car like twisting a sack. Nowadays, even novice female drivers don't panic on icy roads because the flashing light indicates the system is assisting. I remember once on a mountain road, the steering wheel's saving grace was its covert assistance.