AS the region kicks off its 31st annual GCC Traffic Week, Ford joins officials from throughout the Middle East to remind drivers to keep their attention on the road as everyone works toward the common goal of reducing road fatalities. “We can't emphasize enough that road safety begins with the driver,” said Jim Benintende, President, Ford Motor Company Middle East & Africa. “We applaud the efforts that leaders throughout our region are initiating to raise awareness of this important issue.”
Over the past years, Ford has introduced a number of innovative systems and technologies in its vehicles designed to keep drivers and passengers safer on the road. These include inflatable seat belts, MyKey, a 360-degree camera view and MyFord Touch with SYNC.
Other technologies are designed to assist the driver in maintaining control of the vehicle and avoiding crashes in the first place. These include roll stability control, lane departure warning, trailer sway control, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, BLIS blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, high-speed warning chime and parking/back-up assistance.
Ford also regularly hosts “Driving Skills for Life” driver-training programs throughout the region. Driving Skills for Life engages young drivers and addresses four key areas that are critical factors in vehicle accidents. These include distractions / hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management. These four key areas pose the most problems for young drivers and play a role in more than half of the vehicle crashes involving young people worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization, the Middle East has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in the world.
“First and foremost, safety always begins with a seat belt,” said Benintende. “Everyone in the vehicle should always be buckled up. Second, despite the best technology, it is important for drivers to always remain alert behind the wheel. In some parts of our region, such as Saudi Arabia, more than half of all traffic accidents are caused by people using their mobile to text and talk while driving. At the very least, using hands-free technology, like MyFord Touch with SYNC, can help drivers maintain more focus on the road ahead and the vehicles around them.” — SG
