The Ford Motor Company will offer radar-based Collision Warning with Brake Support (CWBS) collision-avoidance technology on certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles in 2009, the company announced.
CWBS, which is designed to prevent rear-end collisions, uses radar to detect moving vehicles directly ahead and has a brake-assist system to help drivers reach maximum braking sooner.
Because the majority of accidents are believed to involve driver inattention, one extra second of warning could prevent up to 90 percent of rear-end collisions, which happen about 2.3 million times each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ford believes CWBS, which can be programmed to give drivers 1.5 seconds to 2.5 seconds of warning, could help prevent many of those crashes.
When a potential collision is detected, CWBS warns the driver with a beep and a red warning light projected on the windshield above the instrument panel. The system also automatically pre-charges brakes and engages a brake-assist feature that helps drivers quickly reach maximum braking once the brakes are engaged.
Ford is also launching two other radar-based collision prevention options. Adaptive Cruise Control, launched on the 2009 Lincoln MKS, detects moving vehicles and adjusts cruising speed as necessary. The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert also debuts in 2009 and uses two multiple beam radar modules packaged in the rear quarter panels to detect moving objects within a 65-foot range from either side of the vehicle. It also uses a light on the corresponding side mirror to warn the driver of an approaching vehicle.
