First Look: Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection
Never again will we have to worry about the safety of our human-sized dummies
Ford is rolling out a new technology that will keep both drivers and pedestrians safer by detecting the potential for an accident and either reducing the severity thereof or stopping it from happening altogether.
Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, making its world debut in the 2015 Mondeo for Europe, utilizes cameras and radars to scan the roadway for potential hazards that could lead to a collision. If a pedestrian or another vehicle is seen to be at risk, the system alerts the driver. If the driver’s response is not quick enough, the system can use the vehicle’s full braking force to prevent the collision or reduce the impact significantly.
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A Matrix-like demonstration of how Ford Pre-Collision Assist will work
While it is extremely effective in broad daylight, Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection is somewhat limited during nighttime driving, in low and harsh lighting and certain inclement weather conditions, and with other vehicles traveling in different directions.
The system will not prevent being t-boned or a collision with a vehicle suddenly crossing the median, and it will be difficult to rely on in snow or darkness. As such, it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for driver alertness, but you knew that already.
While it is not a complete tool for total collision avoidance, it can be paired with Ford’s lane-keeping system and lane-keeping aid, BLIS® with cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, and active park assist. With this suite of technologies, the 2015 Ford Mondeo could well be one of the safest vehicles on the road.
Naturally, Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection won’t just stop with the Mondeo. Expect the technology to be an option for 2016 model-year Ford and Lincoln vehicles, which may well make a vast majority of Ford’s 2016 lineup IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award winners.
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