There’s a new lifesaving feature coming to Ford cars in the near future – crash avoidance technology. The Ford Motor Company has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop this feature in another concerted effort to keep people safer on the roads. So far, here are the two major components of the technology:
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
The main aspect of this crash avoidance technology allows vehicles to communicate with each other on the roads. Imagine driving down the highway at 80 mph and the driver in the car three cars ahead of you hits their brakes. That car can communicate with the cars behind it so those cars can alert their drivers to slow down in time to avoid an accident. In emergency instances, the car can even do automatic braking.
Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance System
When you’re approaching an intersection, this feature will send messages to your car from the traffic light. The message will include the amount of time you have before the light changes and if any other cars are approaching the intersection. The vehicle then uses this information to decide if the driver needs a warning. It can also initiate the brake assist system as well for extra safety.
In addition to these vehicle features, Ford and other automakers are working on a wireless infrastructure so vehicles can communicate with traffic lights, lane markers and other road features that you encounter when you drive. The U.S. Department of Transportation is funding roadside infrastructure features. The department has also proposed installing 250,000 transceivers throughout the nation no later than 2010.
It looks like the future is now and Ford is triumphantly leading us into it.
