Accident Avoidance Technologies

Curve Control

For example, Curve Control is a new technology launched on the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer. Curve Control is designed to sense when a driver is taking a curve too quickly. In those situations, it rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second. The technology is designed to be effective on wet or dry pavement, and is expected to be helpful when drivers are entering or exiting freeway ramps with too much speed. Curve Control will roll out in the majority of Ford products by 2015.

Active City Stop

In Europe, Ford’s Active City Stop can help the driver avoid low-speed collisions. The system uses a forward-facing infra-red laser, mounted next to the rearview mirror, to detect reflective objects in front of the car. The system continuously (100 times per second) monitors the distance to the vehicle in front and the closing speed, to determine the risk of a collision. If, for example, the car in front brakes suddenly, and the system considers that a collision is imminent, it pre-charges the brakes. If the driver does not react, the brakes are automatically applied and the throttle is released. Active City Stop is only active at speeds below 30 km/h (about 19 mph). If the relative speed difference between the two vehicles is less than 15 km/h, then the system may help the driver avoid the collision entirely. For relative speeds between 15 and 30 km/h, the objective is to reduce speed as much as possible prior to impact. Active City Stop is available on the new Ford Focus in Europe.

Adaptive Front Lighting System

Another important Ford safety innovation is the next generation of adaptive headlamps. Our Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) can help drivers to see better at night around curves in the road. The system allows drivers to take corners and curves more safely, and to consume less energy while doing so. The AFLS is available on all newer MK-designated Lincolns and on a number of vehicles across the Ford fleet in Europe.

Auto High-Beam Controller

Auto High-Beam Controller is a new feature that strives to maximize visibility at night by automatically actuating the high-beam lamps when ambient lighting conditions and traffic conditions permit. A forward-looking camera senses the headlamps of oncoming vehicles and the taillamps of leading vehicles, upon which the system automatically switches to the low-beam lamps. Auto High-Beam is offered as an option on the Ford Taurus in North America and on the Ford Mondeo, S-MAX, Galaxy and new Focus in Europe. It is standard on the Lincoln MKS and MKT.

MyKey™

Ford’s MyKey™ system is an innovative 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 2011 model year, MyKey is available on nearly all retail vehicles – including the Ford F-150, SuperDuty, Taurus, Fusion, Mustang, Focus, Explorer, Flex, Escape and Expedition, as well as all Lincolns (the Navigator, MKS, MKX, MKZ and MKT).

Late in 2011 on the Ford Taurus and Explorer, Ford will upgrade MyKey with a world-first technology that allows parents to block explicit radio programming while their teens are driving. The upgraded technology also will allow parents to limit a vehicle’s top speed at any of four different settings – 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. These upgrades will quickly be offered across a variety of Ford and Lincoln models.

AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control®

Finally, Ford’s industry-leading innovation known as AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control® (RSC) continues to give drivers more driving confidence. RSC actively measures and helps control both yaw and roll movements. It uses two gyroscopic sensors to detect when a driver corners too fast or swerves sharply to avoid an obstacle. It then applies pressure to select brake(s) to help the driver maintain control and thus reduce the risk of a rollover event.

Roll Stability Control is standard equipment on the Ford Flex, Explorer, Expedition, Edge, Escape and F-150, as well as E-Series wagons and vans and the 2011 SuperDuty with single rear-wheel configurations. It is also standard equipment on the Lincoln Navigator, MKX and MKT. Ford developed a next-generation regenerative braking system for the 2009 and 2010 Escape Hybrid that is compatible with RSC. For the 2011 model year, 84 percent of all Ford vehicles offered either RSC or our standard electronic stability control system; all 2012 models will offer standard stability control systems.