A safety first for Ford’s Focus

An estimated 1,300 people a year die on Europe’s roads as a result of driver fatigue, and Ford has had their Driver Alert system - found in several models and designed to detect tired driver behaviour - recognized by Euro NCAP this week, making the new Focus the first ever car to receive four Euro NCAP Advanced safety rewards.

The comprehensively-tested Euro NCAP Advanced rewards were introduced in 2010 to recognise car manufacturers that make new safety technologies available. Ford is one of only two manufacturers to hold four of these rewards and the only manufacturer to achieve this with one product. Which is nice.

The Ford Driver Alert system monitors the vehicle’s position relative to lane markings using a forward facing, windscreen-mounted camera, while continually communicating with the car’s on-board yaw sensor to detect erratic movements.

Using this information, the system constantly computes how vigilant the driver is, and presents this rating via a display in the instrument cluster. It sends a warning if it detects the driver is fatigued and needs to rest. The Driver Alert feature is available on new Focus, C-MAX, Grand C-MAX, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy.

“Driver fatigue can affect anyone,” Ford engineer Margareta Nieh said. “When a driver becomes drowsy they tend to drift off-line as they lose concentration and they might make sudden corrective steering inputs. Our Driver Alert system is designed to detect these erratic driving movements and warn the driver in a timely manner.”

Also rewarded by the Euro NCAP boffins in Brussels was Ford’s Forward Alert accident warning system that uses radar technology to scan the road ahead for slowing traffic. If it detects a braking, slower moving or stationary vehicle in front and it determines that a collision is likely, the system alerts the driver with an audible chime and by flashing a warning symbol in the instrument cluster. If the driver fails to brake immediately the system triggers another function; brake support.

“Brake support prepares the brake system for rapid braking by pre-charging the brake booster,” said Ford engineer Pradeep Nold . “When this happens, the brakes are automatically applied and the driver will notice a slight jerk. The braking system is now at a state of maximum readiness. As soon as the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator, the system will apply the brakes, slowing the vehicle. When the driver then hits the brake pedal, the system applies full braking force.”

Forward Alert can be switched on or off via the cluster menu and drivers can choose between three different sensitivity settings, however, the brake support feature is always active.

“Analysis of European accident data shows that rear-end collisions account for about 15 per cent of all traffic accidents resulting in injury,” added Nold. “Forward Alert is designed firstly to warn the driver, and then to reduce the severity of an impact.” 

Forward Alert is currently available on new Focus, Mondeo, S-MAX, and Galaxy. 

www.ford.co.uk


By Daniel Anslow

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