ORIGINS
The ESV Program originated in 1970 under the NATO Committee on
the Challenges of Modern Society, and was implemented through bilateral
agreements between the Governments of the United States, France, the Federal
Republic of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Sweden. The
participating nations agreed to develop experimental safety vehicles to advance
the state-of-the-art technology in automotive engineering and to meet
periodically to exchange information on their progress. Since its inception the
number of international partners has grown to include the Governments of
Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, the Republic of Korea, and
two international organizations - the European Commission, and the European
Enhanced Vehicle-Safety Committee.
EVOLUTION
In 1971 the Conference was known as the International Technical
Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles. Over time, the focus of the conference
shifted from concentration on the development of experimental safety vehicles
to broader issues of safety and international cooperation seeking reductions in
motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. These issues include program advances in
such areas as Pedestrian Safety, Frontal and Side Impact Protection,
Biomechanics, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Vehicle Compatibility. In
1991, the participating governments agreed to change the name of the Conference
to "The International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of
Vehicles" to reflect the current focus. The 14th ESV Conference, held in
Munich, Germany, in May 1994, was the first conference in which the new name
was used, and "25 Years of ESV Development" was celebrated.
In June 2005, the 19th ESV Conference, held in Washington, DC,
welcomed the Republic of Korea to the member Governments supporting the ESV
Program. The first ESV Student Safety Technology Design Competition was
introduced and it was a highlight of the conference agenda. The expectations
and vision of vehicle safety research were discussed during the plenary
session, and participants were inspired to be active contributors in achieving
measurable gains in global vehicle safety. More than 850 participants from 23
countries attended the conference making it the most successful conference in
the history of ESV to date.
The 21st ESV Conference in June 2009 hosted a record breaking
array of participants as more than 1050 people gathered over the four day
program. The organizers arranged a historic retrospective of early experimental
safety vehicles developed in the 1970s through the bilateral agreements. The most recent ESV Conference held in June
2011 in Washington, DC, showcased emerging real world technologies to advance
vehicle safety. Attendees were able to experience these technologies through
over 10 actual vehicle “Ride and Drive” demonstrations and over forty technical
exhibitors giving attendees a firsthand experience of current and future safety
innovations.
FUTURE OF ESV
After forty years, ESV will continue to keep pace with technical
innovation to find new opportunities for advancing safety. A hallmark of the
ESV Program continues to be the technical agenda where presentations that are
shared are considered to be at the leading edge of vehicle safety exploration. As
ESV approaches its 5th decade the organizers continue to strive to
provide its audience with the latest achievements in the field of motor vehicle
safety.
The 23rd ESV Conference venue is the Coex World Trade Center Complex in
Seoul, Republic of Korea May 27-30, 2013. We welcome your participation.
