Active safety systems have come an incredibly long way in the last five years or so. Thanks to them, not only drivers of modern vehicles, but also other traffic participants are considerably safer than ever before, especially compared to a time when automatic braking was a thing of sci-fi fantasy.
Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and a few other automakers have made big technological advancements in this domain, and now is the turn of Ford to boast with its latest active safety feature. Baptized Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, this isn't your typical automatic braking system for a few reasons.
Slated to make its debut on the Euro-specification 2015 Ford Mondeo, this collision avoidance technological showcase is designed to reduce the severity of frontal collisions with pedestrians and, in some cases, even eliminate the potential accident entirely.
By combining radar and camera technology to scan the road ahead, the 2015 Ford Mondeo with the Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection optional safety feature detects if there's a collision risk with a vehicle or pedestrian, providing the driver with a warning. If somehow the driver is distracted and doesn't respond in time, the safety system can automatically apply up to full braking force.
Ford Pre-Collision Assist can do more than the previously detailed, as in helping drivers avoid rear end collisions with other vehicles at all speeds, while Pedestrian Detection can help the Mondeo's driver avoid pedestrians at lower speeds. Of course, this safety feature isn't bulletproof, but the 300,000 miles of real-world testing were done to ensure this technology works as best as possible.
If you're curious how it works, then check out the video below.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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