Ford Survey Shows Drivers Give Thumbs-up To Awareness Technologies

A new study in has shown that the majority of drivers see benefit in driver awareness technologies, which are rapidly filtering down into mainstream models.

Undertaken for Ford in the US (so you may notice a little bias in the results), the survey focused on features such as lane departure warning, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control with collision alert and rear-view camera systems. 

Most respondents predictably considered themselves safe drivers, although many admitted to speeding, driving while fatigued or distracted.

These admissions contributed to 90 percent of participants supporting the fitment of adaptive cruise control with collision warning.

Eighty percent of respondents agreed with the value of lane departure warnings and guidance to combat fatigue and distraction.

Blind-spot warnings and cross-path detection systems were deemed important by 66 percent of respondents.

“Drivers we talked to were definitely inclined toward features that provided real practical benefits by alerting them to potentially hazardous situations they may have missed,” the report reads.

Ford reminds (of course) that these systems are available on the new US-market Fusion midsizer - although you'll also find them in more than a few of its key rivals.

Australia

Australia will see a version of the Fusion as the next-generation Mondeo in late 2013 or early 2014, with most if not all these safety technologies expected to be found in the local model.