To promote greater safety awareness especially when on the road, Ford Malaysia has showcased the ‘Future of Safety with Ford’ tour at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya on Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7 from 10am-8pm.
Open to the public with free admission, the Safety Tour features Ford experts sharing advice on a range of vehicle and driver safety topics, with child safety a particular focus.
“Road safety is a very serious issue, and by bringing the tour to Malaysia, we are hoping to engage Malaysians in a conversation about safer driving, creating greater awareness around vehicle safety and educating them to make better choices for themselves and their loved ones,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.“Road safety relies on good driving habits as well as safer vehicles, and Ford is committed to addressing both.”
Tips for all stages of life
The Tour is comprised of 40-minute safety briefings that commence every half-hour, and progress through a series of exhibits and interactive displays that help showcase Ford’s innovative safety technologies – for both now, and the future.
For parents, the importance of fitting a child seat in their vehicles is highlighted, including tips for choosing the right child seat, purchasing new rather than used, and ensuring that all belts and adjustments are as tight as possible to minimize movement in the case of an accident.
For expecting parents, safe driving tips during pregnancy are also being shared, such as the importance of wearing the seatbelt correctly by positioning it below the abdomen, across the hips.
Visitors can then apply these tips for themselves, by trying on specially designed suits that Ford engineers use in developing vehicles to address the needs of drivers with specific mobility issues, including the Empathy Belly (picture below), which helps to simulate the restricted movement that can be experienced during pregnancy, and the Third Age Suit, with weights, braces, glasses and ear muffs that simulate the effects age can have on the senses.
At the tour, all participants will also be invited to make their own personal safe driving pledge as individual responsibility to help keep the roads safe. They can take the pledge one step further by signing up for one of Ford’s free, half-day Driving Skills For Life (DSFL) workshops held throughout the year. DSFL training includes both classroom and hands-on driving sessions, and is aimed at educating drivers on practical skills for driving safely, helping to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries associated with traffic accidents.
Experiencing smart and safety technology innovations
Visitors will enjoy hands-on demonstrations of Ford SYNC 2, which allows drivers to stay connected while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, and the auto industry’s first-ever production inflatable seatbelts, designed to enhance protection for rear-seat occupants.
Through fun, interactive simulations and multimedia, participants will also learn how advanced features and technologies can assist drivers with challenging traffic conditions. Technologies covered include Adaptive Cruise Control, which helps drivers maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of them;and Active City Stop, which is designed to mitigate and, in certain circumstances, avoid low-speed rear-end collisions. Also featured is MyKey, an industry-first technology that allows vehicle owners to program a key for themselves or younger drivers that limits top speed, reduces maximum radio volume, disables the radio until the seatbelts are fastened, and prevents deactivation of driver assistance and safety technologies.
“Ford leads the way in the development of smart technologies and future transportation systems. We continue to go further to develop innovative safety and driver assistance technologies, while making them attainable and affordable for customers,” explained Pete Hardigan, director of Sustainability, Environment & Safety Engineering, Ford Asia Pacific.
The future of safety
One vision that Ford is helping to make a reality is vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication.
“In the coming years, we may see more services based on two-way V2V communication systems, allowing cars to communicate with each other about driving and traffic conditions, even when they are out of sight,” said Hardigan.
“In the longer term, we hope to see widespread use of V2I systems, allowing cars to talk to infrastructure and traffic management systems. The result could be safer roads, improved mobility, reduced emissions and fuel consumption.”
“Ford Motor Company has a history of pioneering technology,” added Hardigan. “From the first moving assembly line more than 100 years ago to the advanced safety and convenience features we offer today, to the technologies we are developing for the drivers of tomorrow, we are continuing to help shape the future of mobility.”
