The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's come up with a promising way to test electronic stability control systems, which could be a harbinger of a proposal to mandate such systems on many types of vehicles like SUVs and vans. Another possibility would be to establish performance criteria for such vehicles that can realistically only be met by installing stability systems. In either scenario, it's good news for suppliers of stability systems and consumers.

Stability control systems are designed to help drivers keep control of a vehicle and avoid rollover situations. The systems rely on a combination of sensors, individual wheel braking and throttle changes done without driver input. NHTSA has said that stability control systems were effective in reducing single car crashes by 35 percent and single SUV crashes by 67 percent. Car companies have made such systems optional for the most part. Since the publicity in 2000-2002 over Ford Explorers rolling over after tires went flat, though, there has been a big uptick in interest in stability control systems with some lawmakers and advocacy groups wanting to make them required equipment.

NHTSA officials say more research is needed before they take the idea further, but that the agency is encouraged by the preliminary research.