Ford Seeking SUV Safety

DETROIT--Ford Motor Co. has unveiled the safety technologies it plans to roll out throughout its fleet of SUVs beginning in the 2002 model year.

The safety technologies will alert SUV drivers to low tire pressure; will provide increased accident avoidance capabilities as well as enhanced crash protection, will help SUVs avoid potential rollovers as well as offer increased protection in a rollover, and will also help address crash compatibility issues with smaller vehicles.

“Sport utilities as a class of vehicles are safer overall than passenger cars, and each Ford SUV is among the safest in its class,” said Gurminder Bedi, vice president of Ford’s truck division. “With the leadership actions we are committing to today, we are making the upcoming generation of Ford SUVs even safer.”

All Ford SUVs, with first applications beginning in the 2002 model year, will offer an advanced tire pressure monitoring system, and will feature as standard equipment antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution for significantly reduced stopping distances and lowered front bumper beams for better car-to-SUV crash compatibility. The Explorer engineering team has made the 2002 Explorer more crash compatible with passenger cars by lowering its bumper beam height by more than 2 inches--roughly the same height as a Taurus bumper.

The SUVs will also offer advanced occupant protection technology in the form of a Personal Safety System and Safety Canopy rollover protection system as well as AdvanceTrac electronic stability programming. Each of these advanced safety technologies will be available on Ford Escape, Explorer, Explorer Sport and SportTrac, Expedition and Excursion by 2005. The electronic rollover sensors measure how fast the vehicle’s lean angle is changing to determine whether the vehicle is headed for a rollover and if so, deploys the side curtain air bags to help protect passengers and help keep them inside until the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

“This comprehensive commitment to safety will help Ford SUV drivers avoid accidents and also help better protect them in the accidents that still will happen,” Bedi said. “It is the latest installment on Ford’s ‘Cleaner, Safer, Sooner’ commitment to our customers and to society.”