April10
Ford has announced that it will launch a new range of safety features on some of its 2009 vehicles. The new features will bow on most 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles and will help motorists avoid accidents involving the vehicle's blind spots.
The first technology — which Ford has dubbed Blind Spot Monitoring System — will launch in early 2009 and will use radar to track vehicles in the driver's blind spot. Ford's system will alert drivers when another vehicle is in their blind spot by sounding an audible warning and illuminating an indicator in the vehicle's side view mirror.
While this sort of technology is not new to the industry, this is actually the first time that any Ford vehicle will be equipped with such a system.
Along with Ford's Blind Spot Monitoring System, the Blue Oval will also be introducing a Cross Traffic Alert in 2009. The system is designed to help drivers when backing out of a parking spot and can detect other vehicles withing 65 feet of either side of the vehicle's rear bumper. While this technology won't be of much use on the highway, it promises to reduce the number of parking lot fender benders.
Ford's third and final feature to help reduce the number of accidents involving a vehicle's blind spot is a small mirror that is fitted within a vehicle's side-view mirror. Reminiscent of the "fish eye" mirrors of the 1980s, the small integrated mirror will give drives a better view down the side of the vehicle.
Ford failed to mention exactly which vehicles would be receiving the new features, but said that most Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles should be seeing the upgrades.
so what is there to stop some moron from staying in your blind spot on purpose just so you get that audible warning and that indicator to go off and distract you from driving, or would this warning come on once you use your turn signal, that's if people still use those.
Or you could just turn your fat-a$$ head and look. Another stupid electronic device to protect us from ourselves.
A $1.99 stick-on convex mirror works the same for anyone who isn't a stupid monkey driver. Another unnecessary gadget.
I love it. Ford continues to add more and more features to their vehicles and the haters continue to hate. If this had been a toyonda story the first six posts would have been how toyonda is saving the planet and all of us with their continued research and development and how much this is going to add to their resale and quality.
crash1433:
lol, actually very true. They seem to keep building in more content and keeping prices down. They are becoming the "Safe car company" - ala Volvo. A lot of secretaries will listen to this stuff.
What about the blind buyers who buy Ford crap without supporting General Motors like we should be? Shoudl do something about those shmucks as well.
It's a big tent. There's room for GM, Ford and even some of Chrysler and a few others.
Your probably right crash1433. Im not a Ford hater, but I am not likeing them these days. These "New" gadgets are nice and maybe unnecessary (at this time). what they should be focusing on is is there product. Fix that first then add these
These safety devices actually casue more accidents since they think the device will do the work for them. A woman I know doesn't even look when backing up, saying "the beepy thing will let me know if something is there".
Don't really know why anyone would be against this kind of stuff. Even good drivers like those of us who post on LLN get surprised from time to time finding another vehicle where and when you least expect it. Anything that aids in the preservation of factory sheetmetal and ultimately could lead to less dealings with slimy insurance corps gets my vote.
Guys I have experience this feature and it's great. The audible warning and flashing only activate if you operate the turn signal when someone is in your blind spot, otherwise you just get a dim light that alert you that someone is in your blind spot. So for lazy people who don't turn their heads, when they glance in the mirror they will notice the light.
Ford is thinking fwd thats a change
Good for Ford. At least they are offering safety features like this. You don't see any GM vehicles equipped with anything like that. I gotta say I really thought Ford was going to go under, but I think they are coming back, I'm personally not a Ford fan but they are starting to impress me.
Ford Flex will see it first. Its a great low tech needed addition. Its flush with the mirror surface. Ford is on a comeback. Good job Ford!
Sounds like a corporate vision statement. Could not see prices of gas going up for the last 4 years, lets get rid of the blind spot.
I take this coment back as well Im agreeing with whomever said it was probably Volvos idea
I forgot to mention, that designing functional car with minimum blind spots would help as well. Volvo use to have great visibility, especially in a wagon.
Yes autonut, amazing how glass is easier to see out of than sheetmetal. Go figure.
What is wrong with a slightly convex curvature on the outer edge of the factory mirror to reveal the blind spot. Saab has been doing this since the early 90's in Europe. It's simple, low-tech, safe, and actually works. Prolly 'caus the DOT has their head buried in the sand and still stuck in the 19th century having a tea party along with the US automakers.
2008 Buick Lucernes, and 08 DTSs have an available Side Blind Zone Alert system with indicators in the rear view mirrors that recognize a vehicle in a blind spot. Also, these two vehicles are available with Lane Departure Warning System, which does exactly as the name says, makes and audio and visual alert when vearing out of a lane above a certain speed (35MPH I think). Jokingly available on the two vehicles I feel where they are needed most–the stereotypcial old person cars!
MikeFX: That's just women for ya!
cheap gas, and now blind spots
I say this its a good feature but they need to install Electrodes on vehicles to the hands and feet of Known lane Change offender to zap them with 1000 Volts of eletricity when they do it especially those who are responsible for accidents. can't help yourself ZAP. Zorch! Zzzzzz
turning your head around to look on the driver's side is dangerous. You have to turn your around too far to see anything, and at that time you are moving forward without seeing what is in front of you. We all know people who have crashed into the car in front of them while they had their head turned all the way around to the left (driver's side).
go ford take over thwe world.