Ford has developed two new technologies set to be offered in 2009 that will aid drivers with visibility in blind-spots and will assist with backing out of difficult parking spaces.
The Blind Spot Mirror will be first offered in the 2009 Ford family of vehicles as an affordable solution for safer driving. The mirror features a convex spotter placed on the outer edge of the outside rearview mirrors. This smaller supplemental mirror is aimed specifically at the driver's blind spot and aids in overall visibility.
For further blind spot elimination, Ford engineers created the Cross Traffic Alert radar system. Key to this technology is its detection of moving objects up to 65 feet away on either side of the backing vehicle.
Both an audible alert and a visual flashing light on the corresponding rearview mirror give warning to the driver of oncoming cars or people. While in drive, the system will alert the driver of vehicles in their blind spots.
The Cross Traffic Alert system also works at angles bigger and smaller than 90 degrees, which allows for its use in difficult parking positions.
Ford's latest safety technologies will likely out-do the old-school, stick-on fisheye bubble mirror found on most F-Series trucks and will be available on all Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln vehicles starting next year.
Source: Ford