A new safety feature might actually get more drivers to buckle up, especially teenagers. Ford calls it the “no belts, no tunes” feature. It can prevent a driver from listening to a car’s stereo system if seat belts aren’t in use. This safety innovation has been on display as part of Ford’s Future of Safety tour.
The event included a demonstration of the auto world’s first production-ready rear inflatable seat belts. The restraints work like an airbag, redistributing the pressure caused by a collision over more of the passenger’s upper body. The inflatable belts also protect the head and neck better than a standard seat belt, Ford officials say.
Ford’s “MyKey” technology allows parents a measure of control over the way their teens drive. The special ignition keys allow a number of safety features to be programmed into a vehicle. They include the no belts, no tunes function, limiting a car stereo’s top volume and setting a maximum driving speed of 80 mph.
Also on display was a Ford Flex vehicle, which of course can be found at a Doug Henry Ford dealer, with the company’s “active park assist” system. That function automates the act of parallel parking.
General Motors’ StabiliTrak electronic stability control system helps keep vehicles on course when a driver panics. Nissan is working on a number of safety innovations, including alcohol sensors and anti-tiredness alerts.
Ford is developing smart sensors that can warn drivers in time to avoid collisions. The company also is working on a “Blind Spot Information System,” which senses when another car is in a driver’s blind spot and activates a light in the side mirror. Maybe some day you’ll see these innovations on a Ford from a New Hampshire Ford dealer.
