Beshore and Koller Ford Service News

Distracted Driving Awareness Week

• Sales of Ford Sync™ voice-activated communications system accelerate as Distracted Driving Awareness Week Kicks off June 9.
• SYNC drivers stay more focused on the road. Study shows that talking and listening while driving - such as placing a phone call through SYNC™ voice commands - was not riskier than just driving and two-and-a-half times less risky than manually dialing while driving.

DEARBORN, Mich., June 4 - As the National Safety Council turns the country's attention to distracted driving next week, the Ford Sync™ in-car communications and entertainment system continues gaining popularity as one of the most advanced answers yet to the distractions nearly 190 million Americans encounter as they talk on cell phones while driving.

A recent Nationwide Insurance Company survey found that more than 80 percent of mobile phone owners said they talk on the phone while driving, and 40 percent of teen and 20-something American mobile phone owners admitted to composing and sending text messages while driving. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that distracted driving causes 80 percent of road accidents.

In light of mounting evidence that the nation's novice drivers are endangering themselves and others, the National Safety Council has designated June 9-13 "Distracted Driving Awareness Week," as part of National Safety Month (http://www.nsc.org/nsm/).

Ford is helping to reduce potential driver distraction through ongoing research and the development of hands-free, voice-activated technologies such as Ford SYNC™. The system was developed in part based on research from its state-of-the-art driving simulator that was used to examine the factors that lead to distraction. Ford, working with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, used this research to help develop distraction guidelines for new telematics and infotainment systems.

"Ford has highly trained experts using state-of-the-art research tools to help people stay focused on driving," says Susan Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. "We are confident that our efforts through research, education and innovation are helping drivers, particularly teens, to hone their driving skills while avoiding the risky behaviors that contribute to dangerous driving situations."

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Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008