Post-Crash/Injury Mitigation Technologies

One method of assisting emergency responders to reach the scene of a vehicle crash quickly is through in-vehicle emergency call systems, also called post-crash notification. These systems enable a driver to summon assistance in an urgent situation either automatically (if, for example, an airbag deploys) or at the touch of a button.

In the United States, Ford SYNC® is an award-winning, in-car connectivity system that was introduced on certain 2007 model year vehicles. Beginning with the 2009 model year, SYNC-equipped vehicles come with an all-new occupant communications capability called 911 Assist. In the event of a severe crash, the ability to directly contact the local 911 emergency operator could be critical, for both the vehicle occupants and first responders. While any cell phone alone could be used in an emergency situation, SYNC can assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator – when a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC and where the system and cell phone remain powered and undamaged – should a crash with an airbag deployment or fuel shutoff switch activation occur. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators and do not have to be routed through a call center (as in competitors' versions), which can delay the time it takes to get help on the way. SYNC 911 gives the occupants a choice as to whether or not to make the emergency call, and places the call if the occupant does not respond after a short time.

This voice-activated feature is available to customers with 2008 and beyond model year SYNC-equipped vehicles through a dealer-installed software update. We are investigating a system similar to SYNC's 911 Assist for introduction in Ford's European product range beginning in 2011.

In late 2004, Ford, via its membership in the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the development of a pan-European, in-vehicle emergency call system dubbed "eCall." The purpose of the MOU is to promote the development and implementation of eCall systems throughout Europe, in order to improve the number of vehicles reached by emergency responders within a short period of time.

The On Call system – a GSM- and GPS-based emergency and assistance system1 – is currently available on Volvo vehicles. It is sold and operational in a number of European countries, including Russia. With the On Call system and any future deployment of a 911 Assist-type feature in Europe, Ford has made and will continue to make significant progress toward increasing the availability of eCall technology on vehicles in Europe.

The SOS-Post Crash Alert System, which is standard equipment on most Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, is another important advance in post-crash safety technology. The SOS-Post Crash Alert System automatically activates the horn and emergency flashers in the event of an airbag deployment or safety belt pre-tensioner activation. The second-generation system – which is being launched on the 2011 Ford F-150 SuperDuty, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX – also automatically unlocks vehicle doors in the event of an airbag deployment or safety belt pre-tensioner activation. The system is designed to alert passers-by and emergency services to the vehicle's location.