10/05/2011 11:49
Ford has unleashed a new technology designed to improve cut the number of accidents taking place on the road.
Driver Alert is a new technology that uses sophisticated algorithms to analyse the performance of the driver.
A warning is issued if the motorists show signs of tiredness, such as erratic or out-of-control steering, which are identified by an onboard camera that detects lane markings.
Ford engineer Margareta Nieh said driver fatigue is "a serious problem" that can affect many people.
"The technology is very clever. If the driver fails to acknowledge the hard warning, the system can only be reset by stopping the car and opening the driver's door," she noted.
Driver Alert is one of seven features in the optional Driver Assistance pack, available on Ford Mondeo, Ford S-MAX, Ford Galaxy and new Ford Focus models.
In other news, the manufacturer recently announced that it will introduce WiFi hotspot capabilities when Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch technology is added to the Ford Focus range early next year.