Driving a Ford Can Help Reduce Stress

December 2, 2010, Beverly, MA…According to a nine-month study conducted by Ford Motor Company and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the advanced technology available in some new Ford models will reduce stress for drivers in tense situations. Using heart rates and driver reactions as indicators, the study determined that drivers assisted by new Ford technology, such as Active Park Assist and Cross-Traffic Alert, were more at ease behind the wheel.

The study is part of a seven-year collaboration between Ford and MIT on the subject of driving stress. The partnership aims to produce technology that will target the common causes of everyday driving stress and improve overall driver wellness. The study results show that Ford’s new driving technologies, such as MyFordTouch and driver assistance systems, provide a more enjoyable driving experience.

Jeff Klein, the general sales manager of Greater Boston Ford dealer Thomas Ford, is proud to see Ford working with the best minds at MIT to increase the well-being of its drivers.

“Massachusetts drivers expect stress and misery every time they get on the road,” said Klein. “Ford’s technology can’t do anything about people who cut you off, but it can make it easier to handle some of the more stressful aspects of driving. And features like MyFordTouch let you control most of a vehicle’s systems with your voice or from the steering wheel, which means you can keep your eyes out for misbehaving drivers.”

For many drivers, parallel parking on busy streets is a cause of anxiety. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Ford Motor Company found that 31% of drivers avoid parallel parking and will try it only as a last resort. Vehicles like the 2011 Ford Escape enable drivers to parallel park with confidence as the available Active Park Assist guides the vehicle into spots with limited driver involvement. The system senses the proximity of other objects, determines the appropriate angles and directs the driver’s use of the brake and throttle as the vehicle moves into the parking spot.

The MIT study revealed that the average heart rate of drivers was more than 12 beats per minute lower when they used Active Park Assist than when they tried to park manually. Following the tests, 76% of participants said that Active Park Assist made parallel parking easier.

MyFordTouch, available on the 2011 Ford Edge SEL and standard on Edge Limited and Sport models, combats driver distraction by allowing drivers to control everything from the navigation system to cabin temperature simply by speaking. This means spending less time using the increasing number of knobs and buttons in modern vehicles, allowing drivers to keep their eyes focused on the road.

“Boston Ford drivers have a real advantage with the innovative technology found in some of this year’s models,” said Klein. “A lot of thought goes into making these features as useful as possible, so that drivers can enjoy being on the road and have the confidence that comes with owning some of the most innovative automobile technology available today.”

About Thomas Ford:
Thomas Ford, located in Beverly MA, has been a fixture in the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 40 years. They base their success on their dedicated sales and service departments' commitment to customer satisfaction. It's never been a better time to be a Ford owner, and Thomas Ford encourages you to stop by their dealership to discover why. For more information, like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ThomasFordAuto, call them at 1-800-910-1082, visit their web site at www.thomasford.com, or stop by their dealership at 211 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA.