Encouraging Safer Driving

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that human factors cause or contribute to more than 90 percent of serious crashes.

In the pre-crash stage, drivers can try to avoid crashes by practicing safe driving. In the crash and post-crash phases, drivers can help reduce the risk of injury by always properly using safety equipment such as safety belts. Ford Motor Company provides information, educational programs and advanced technologies to assist in promoting safe driving practices.

In the past year, distracted driving has received increased national attention as a contributing factor in motor vehicle crashes. We at Ford have been working for years to provide teen driver education and appropriate technologies to help prevent crashes due to distracted driving. Our sustainability report last year included a case study on distracted driving; the case has been updated for this year's report.

Numerous studies show that hands-free multimedia devices offer safety benefits compared to hand-held devices. The benefits are seen in driving performance as well as object and event detection. Ford's popular and award-winning SYNC® technology, powered by Microsoft®, provides a way for drivers to use cell phones and MP3 players more safely, because they can do so through voice commands alone while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Ford SYNC was launched in late 2007 and is now available on nearly every vehicle from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

In 2010, Ford will introduce new MyFord™ driver connect technology – an all-new user interface that will deliver a smarter, safer and simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives. MyFord, along with MyLincoln™ and MyMercury™, was developed after a thorough review of current interior design – and its limitations – considering the abundance of new and emerging technologies. After studying vehicle communications trends and the ways drivers were using technology inside their vehicles, it was evident that the current way of interacting with car and truck technology was rapidly becoming obsolete.

The MyFord user interface replaces many of the traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges, and is designed to allow maximum focus on driving, while providing unparalleled access to information, entertainment and connectivity features. The system includes two easily reached and intuitive five-way controllers on the steering wheel, a next-generation, state-of-the-art voice recognition system with nearly 10,000 available commands, and clear, large, color LCD displays. These features ensure that drivers maximize the time their eyes are on the road and their hands are on the steering wheel. And although the user interface is all new, it should not feel unfamiliar, as it is based on the fundamentals of Ford's award-winning navigation system, as well as the SYNC user interface.

MyFord launches on the 2011 Ford Edge and goes global with availability on the 2012 Focus. MyLincoln will be standard equipment on new Lincolns beginning with the 2011 MKX.

Beginning last year on select 2010 models, SYNC became available with Traffic, Directions and Information, a subscription service that allows drivers to access traffic reports, turn-by-turn directions and business news and information, all via voice command. SYNC will be launched on Ford's European product range beginning in 2011. (See the case study in this section for more on how SYNC helps to reduce driver distraction.)

Ford's MyKey™ system is an innovative new technology designed to help parents encourage their teenagers to drive more safely. MyKey allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle's top speed to 80 mph and the audio volume to 44 percent of total volume. MyKey encourages safety-belt usage by enabling Ford's Beltminder™ to chime every minute indefinitely until the safety belt is buckled, rather than ceasing after five minutes, and also by muting the audio system until the belt is buckled. In addition, MyKey provides an earlier low-fuel warning (at 75 miles to empty rather than 50); sounds speed-alert chimes at 45, 55 or 65 mph; and will not allow manual override of other safety systems. For the 2010 model year, MyKey is available on the Ford F-150, Taurus, Flex, Focus, Escape and Expedition; the Mercury Mariner; and the Lincoln Navigator, MKS and MKT.

Ford Driving Skills for Life (FDSFL), Ford's driver education program, demonstrates our continued commitment to educating teens about safer driving. In 2008, Ford launched FDSFL in the Asia Pacific and Africa (APA) region, and in 2009 continued with the successful rollout of the program to additional APA markets. FDSFL is now in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and India. During 2009 in these markets, Ford provided training for roughly 11,000 licensed drivers and several thousand Ford India employees.

The U.S. FDSFL program (www.drivingskillsforlife.com) was carried out in nine different states in 2009. The program provides outstanding learning tools, including an award-winning curriculum with hands-on training and web-based learning, a teacher and parent educational kit, a teaching DVD designed for interactive learning, and printed materials to help young drivers improve their ability behind the wheel. Both the FDSFL Web site and "Ride and Drives" for teen drivers include modules on the importance of avoiding distracted driving. In addition, the program includes information about eco-driving, car care tips and information for mature drivers.

Beginning in 2007, Ford partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation, secretary of state, and state police to launch a statewide effort – modeled on Ford Driving Skills for Life – designed to reduce teen crashes and fatalities. Called Operation Teen Safe Driving, this campaign was the first of its kind and got high school students directly involved by challenging them to develop and implement a teen safe driving community awareness campaign using FDSFL resources. This seven-month statewide effort involved 778 schools in 102 Illinois counties, and had the support of the governor, the secretary of state and the Chicago board of education.

The results have been remarkable: The state has seen a 49 percent reduction in teen fatalities over the last three years.