Ford's Latest Safety Innovation

Curve Control Technology Will Prevent Accidents On Turns

Government crash data says  that approximately 50,000 crashes annually in the U.S. involve driving too fast on a curve.  Ford safety researchers decided to do something about it.

The Ford Motor Company recently introduced a new innovation called Curve Control, which is designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles when taking a curve too quickly.  Curve Control will launch 2011 Ford Explorer and will be offered on 90 percent of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.

“Ford’s Curve Control technology senses a potentially dangerous situation and reduces power and applies brakes more quickly than most drivers can react on their own," said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

Curve Control senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly and rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second.

The patent-pending system works by measuring how quickly the vehicle is turning and comparing that with how quickly the driver is trying to turn. When the vehicle is not turning as much as the driver is steering – also known as “pushing” – Curve Control activates.

Cischke said the designers specifically had freeway entrances and exits in mind when they designed curve control, as drivers often have too much speed in those situations.  The technology is effective on wet or dry pavement.

Soundbites about the technology taken from an interview with Ford's Brake Control supervisor Dave Messih can be heard here. 

When 2011 Ford Explorers hit Buffalo, West Herr will be there.  If you want to know more about Curve Control or other Ford products, visit us online today.