Don’t Break the Bank on Brakes

Posted on: 5 February 2015

Modern vehicles meld the functions of a high tech computer system with a mobile platform to drastically improve safety. Safety systems on new vehicles act as a second set of eyes and ears for their drivers. Furthermore, the systems can automatically respond to dangerous conditions by issuing a warning or applying the brakes. With more than 90% of collisions caused by driver mistakes, it makes sense to invest in safety systems that can automatically detect and correct to prevent accidents. Here are four innovative ways modern vehicles help protect their drivers.

Lane Guidance

Modern vehicles use camera equipment to keep the vehicle centered in the lane at all times. If the system detects that the vehicle is approaching the edge of the road, it automatically corrects placement by slightly adjusting the steering. Full electronic steering boxes on new vehicles make this entire process possible without any input from the driver.

You can view the vehicle's perception of its placement in the lane on the onboard display. When in perfect alignment with the lane, the display shows the vehicle sitting evenly between two green lines. If the system cannot detect the edges of the lanes, the lines are shown in gray.

Curve Control

Going into a corner too hot can result in the vehicle flying off the road, spinning out or rolling over. Each year, more than 50,000 drivers end up in an accident from going around the corner too fast. Vehicle manufacturers have their sights set on reducing those numbers with their innovative automatic corner braking system.

With cornering control systems, the vehicle applies the brakes upon detecting speeds too fast for the upcoming bend. This system is especially important on SUVs and crossover vehicles as it prevents a potential rollover accident. After completing the corner routine, you can resume driving normally by accelerating back up to speed.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Piloting a vehicle in heavy traffic may feel tedious and tiring after just a few minutes. Furthermore, the chance of an accident increases due to the sheer number of vehicles on the road at the same time. You can let your vehicle assist in accident avoidance by using the adaptive cruise control.

With this system, the vehicle automatically accelerates and brakes to maintain a safe distance away from the vehicle ahead. Although you still need to steer the vehicle and watch out for people changing lanes, this system reduces risk and fatigue while moving through heavy traffic.

Collision Avoidance

The same camera equipment that watches for lane departures or proximity to other vehicles operates the collision warning system. The equipment can watch for obstructions as small as a pedestrian or sign pole sitting in the expected pathway and provide you with an audible and visual alert.

If you do not respond within a few feet, the system will even automatically apply the brakes to safely bring the vehicle to a full stop. In high-speed situations, this system may not completely avoid the collision, but it will slough off enough speed to lessen the impact. In fact, lowering the vehicle's speed by 1/2 before the impact occurs can reduce damage by 75%.

Finding Your Perfect Car

Most of new vehicles in dealership lots offer all of these safety features and more. Talk with your dealership representative to test drive the vehicles you are considering for your next purchase. Make sure to try out the safety features to make sure their activation and response works for your needs.

If you do not know how to activate the systems, ask your Ford dealer salesperson to tag along on the test drive. You may need to narrow down your selections by weeding out vehicles with systems that do not feel intuitive. Don't hesitate to continue test-driving vehicles until you identify a make and model with the right balance of features.