Last week, I had the privilege of touring Ford's Development Center and speaking with their safety technicians firsthand. I must say, I feel so much better driving a Ford than I ever did before. (fiestamovement)
Ford began crash testing their vehicles in the early 1950's, using a Thunderbird to pull a test car into a solid barrier. Cables attached to the car transmitted data to a van that cruised alongside it. Since then, as you can guess, technology has advanced significantly. Today, Ford is able to conduct several crash tests a day (over 500 a year) in a controlled environment, using high-speed cameras and sensors to collect data.
During my tour, I witnessed two live crash tests: a South American Escape crashing into a barrier wall at 35mph, and an F-Series truck side-impact test at 50mph. Both tests were incredible to watch up close, and the vehicles passed with flying colors.
In the old days, vehicles may not have sustained much damage in tests like these. Many thought that the more a car was built like a tank, the safer the passengers would be. But auto manufacturers like Ford understand that in order to protect the passengers, the vehicle must absorb as much of the impact as possible. That is why most modern cars are considered "totaled" after a collision. This is due to the "crush zones" specifically designed to absorb impact. In the event of a side-impact collision, side curtain airbags are deployed to further protect the passenger cabin.
As you can guess, conducting over 500 full vehicle crash tests can get pricey. Each test costs Ford Motor Company anywhere from $500,000 to over a million dollars. To help cut costs, Ford technicians have developed simulated crash testing, which accurately resembles a full scale test. This not only saves the company money, but allows them to do thousands of tests a year, and conform each test to a specific need.
Small-scale simulations can range from a dummy head smashing into a dashboard to a basketball colliding with a car door. Ford now uses advanced pressure-based sensors instead of accelerometers to determine the need for airbag deployment. For example, you wouldn't want an airbag going off if a shopping cart hits your car in a parking lot, but you would want it to deploy in a collision with another vehicle. The new pressure-based sensors can tell the difference.
Not only were the tests impressive, but the technicians we met were truly passionate about vehicle safety. Meeting them in person and hearing their excitement about the new technology Ford is developing made me know for a fact that I'm in good hands when climbing into a Ford vehicle. It's a great feeling--I wish all of you could experience the same reassurance.
The best I can do is to encourage everyone to educate themselves on their vehicle's safety features. Visit the auto company's website and read your owner's manual. You'll find a myriad of fascinating tidbits like this: Ford vehicles have been equipped with "black box" technology since the 1990's. Similar to a airplane's, your car's black box can record a staggering amount of data about the way you drive. It can detect whether or not someone is sitting in any of the seats, how much they weigh, and how close their seat is to the steering wheel or dashboard. It records how fast you were driving in the event of a crash, how much the car tilted, if any, and how many times it rolled. Using this data, police officers no longer have to rely solely on measuring skid marks--all they need to do is download the information from the black box.
And Ford is taking it one step further--they are currently developing ways for the black box to transmit a distress call directly to 911 after a crash. Using the information from the black box, 911 dispatchers will be able to determine the extent of the accident, know how many ambulances to send, and what to be prepared for. And unlike OnStar, which is available on GM vehicles, Ford's technology will use your existing cell phone, so there is no extra cost for the consumer.
If that wasn't proof enough that Ford vehicles are among the safest on the road, the Federal government actually based their recent crash test requirements on the testing Ford does at their Development Center in Michigan. Even so, Ford still goes beyond the call of duty, testing scenarios that the Federal government does not require.
The best way to stay safe in any vehicle is to follow traffic laws and have your car repaired by a certified technician. It is extremely important that the sensors in your vehicle are replaced and serviced by a professional.
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Ford began crash testing their vehicles in the early 1950's, using a Thunderbird to pull a test car into a solid barrier. Cables attached to the car transmitted data to a van that cruised alongside it. Since then, as you can guess, technology has advanced significantly. Today, Ford is able to conduct several crash tests a day (over 500 a year) in a controlled environment, using high-speed cameras and sensors to collect data.
Not only were the tests impressive, but the technicians we met were truly passionate about vehicle safety. Meeting them in person and hearing their excitement about the new technology Ford is developing made me know for a fact that I'm in good hands when climbing into a Ford vehicle. It's a great feeling--I wish all of you could experience the same reassurance.
