Raise your hand if you ever have fallen asleep driving? Even one of those nanosecond naps counts as falling asleep. It’s estimated that more than 250,000 people fall asleep behind the wheel a day. As many of you travel in the coming week, I wanted to highlight some initiatives to keep you safe. I went to an event recently to test drive the new Ford Fusion. Part of the new design are a few bells and whistles to help keep you alert and safe on the road. The idea is that the advancement of technology in cars can act as preventative measures, instead of reactive.
I also got to hear from John Paul, the “Car Doctor” from AAA at the Ford Driving event. He shared some scary stats about how dangerous the “micro nap” can be. Maybe you don’t fall asleep behind the wheel, but the driver next to you might. He suggests taking a 15-20 minute nap if you are doing long distance driving. The other factors are getting a little exercise and caffeine. A large Starbucks is the most caffeinated coffee you can buy.
Michael Kane, a Ford Vehicle Engineering Supervisor, shared with us the latest in technology in the Fusion. (also available in some other Ford models)
- Lane keeping system.
- BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)
- Active Park Assist (I did this in the Escape driving event, loved it!)
- Auto Start Stop (no more idling!)
- Cross Traffic Alert (gives you a heads up when backing out of a parking lot space if a vehicle is in your way.)
This video about the Lane Keeping System explains it in this short video.
Ford Fusion Lane Keeping System Animation
Driving the Fusion was a pleasant, and quiet, experience. Besides the fact that my kids were not in the car, I noticed how extremely quiet the car drove. I love that feature. The drive was great, pick up top notch and it has all the cool Sync technology built in. Plus, I love the commitment to new safety features in an affordable car.
Love the eco friendly options in the Ford fleet!
I helped coordinate this event and wanted to give a huge thank you to L’Aroma Cafe in West Newton. The scones and coffee were delicious! Urban Sitter kept the kids occupied so we could focus on learning about the Fusion. Thank you to all the participants who brought in donations for the local food pantry as well!
