The Federal Government today announced that electronic stability control systems would be mandatory in all new cars from 2011.

The Government would introduce an Australian Design Rule requiring all new passenger cars and four-wheel drives to have the electronic handling aid that's been credited with reducing single-vehicle crashes by up to 30 per cent, was said in an announcement made today by Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.

The FCAI says about 60 per cent of all new passenger cars and 80 per cent of soft roaders are already equipped with stability control so a rollout by 2011 is now more achievable. Utes and vans, won't be subject to the new rule's 2011 time frame despite being over-represented in crashes.

ESC greatly improves vehicle safety performance and is probably the most significant advance in vehicle safety since seatbelts were made compulsory in the early 1970's.