Smart Intersections

Approximately 40 percent of all traffic accidents and 20 percent of crash-related fatalities occur at intersections. That’s why
Ford Motor Company researchers launched one of the first privately funded “smart intersections” in North America, a key
step toward leveraging GPS technology and wireless infrastructure-to-vehicle communications to reduce traffic accidents
and ease fuel-wasting congestion.

Real-time Information
Ford research vehicles with “active
safety” technologies wirelessly download
information about the intersection to
determine if drivers should be warned
about possible hazards. Ford’s smart
intersection in Dearborn, Mich., transmits
to test vehicles a detailed digital map of
the signalized intersection, six additional
maps of the surrounding
stop sign intersections or
crosswalks, lane-specific
GPS information and
signal status
information.

Active Accident Avoidance

The vehicle’s collision avoidance system uses this real-time
information to help determine whether the car will safely cross the
intersection. If the system determines the need to stop and senses
that the driver is not decelerating quick enough, it issues a visual
warning on the windshield and an audio alarm to the driver via
integrated vehicle electronics.

Consumer-driven Safety Innovation

The research addresses increasing consumer interest in vehicles that help detect and react to dangerous conditions.
According to a 2007 market research study conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield, Mich., many drivers want their
vehicles to alert them to potential collisions and help them avoid accidents.

10/2009 for more information, go to WWW.media.ford.com