Discover how the Ford Ranger Wildtrak’s safety features work to prevent accidents on the open road

Safety has always been a main pillar of Ford. Throughout its history, the Blue Oval brand has spearheaded safety in all its vehicles. This includes Ford’s passenger cars and commercial vehicles and its best-selling pick-up trucks. Developed and designed to keep all occupants safe, Ford has invested time and money to help minimise accidents and to keep both driver as well as passengers out of harm’s way when the unthinkable happens.

Today, safety is one of the key components as well as considerations for consumers, which is why Ford continues to push the envelope of vehicular safety. Thanks to technological advancements, all current Ford vehicles are equipped with a wide array of active and intuitive safety enhancements, which help mitigate and reduce the possibilities of accidents and collisions.  

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak for instance remains one of the safest and most technological advanced vehicles not just in the pick-up truck segment but in the overall vehicle market as well. Safety is a significant issue as pick-up trucks like the Ranger and Wildtrak have carved a reputation for themselves as choice vehicles for urban adventurers as well as small business owners due to their rugged capabilities and big payload capacity. Ford, through the Ranger, helped changed the misconception that pick-up trucks aren’t as safe as passenger cars with class leading technological safety features.

However like all advancements, understanding these features and what they do is of paramount importance. Fortunately, Ford’s safety technologies and driver assistance features are not just easy to use but also help in a long way to keep you and your loved one safe and sound on the open road. Here are some prime examples.

What is it: The Ford Ranger Wildtrak is the first and only pick-up truck in the Malaysian market to utilise this intelligent safety system, which is designed to warn the driver of a potential frontal collision. The system is also able to pre-charge the brakes for greater brake performance. Drivers have the option of customising the setting for the Forward Collision Alert with Collision Mitigation via the five-way switch on the multi-function steering wheel. Drivers can access High, Normal and Low sensitivity settings and even turn the system off completely.

Likely scenarios of frontal collisions: Frontal collisions often occur when the vehicle in front of you suddenly begins decreasing speed at a rapid pace. This could be the direct result of the vehicle in front facing mechanical failure or braking to avoid another vehicle. The vehicle in front could also be rapidly slowing down due to roadworks, deteriorating road conditions, accidents and traffic congestion.

How it works: Using a radar sensor at the front of the vehicle, the system detects when you are approaching a vehicle too quickly and will immediately flash a warning light on your windscreen along with a warning sound. In the event you fail to slow down, the system will begin to pre-charge the brakes to provide full braking power when you press the brake in order to help you avoid a collision.

What is it: Lane Departure Warning helps alert the driver of an unintentional lane change by vibrating the steering wheel. This system helps to ensure the driver constantly keeps the vehicle inside its lane. When a turn signal is initiated for a lane change, the system will deactivate allowing for a smooth and uninterrupted driving experience.

Likely scenarios unintentional lane changes: Driver distraction and fatigue is the key reason why unintentional lane departures happen. The risks posed by unintentional lane departures are serious, as they can result in a road collision or vehicle run-off.

How it works: The Lane Departure Warning system utilises a front view camera mounted behind the windshield’s rear view mirror to monitor road lane markings. The camera is able to detect when the vehicle begins to drift unintentionally outside its lane. When this happens, Lane Departure Warning will warn the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. This informs the driver to take corrective action to help prevent a run-off road incident or collision with another vehicle in the adjacent lane. The Lane Departure Warning activates when the vehicle is travelling at speeds of above 65kmh and will work as long as the camera can detect at least one clear lane marking.

What is it: The Ford MyKey is a revolutionary safety system that has been designed to pre-program various driving functions, settings and restrictions for the vehicle. Ford created the MyKey to promote safe driving habits, especially for secondary drivers, as it allows the owner of the vehicle to pre-set specific vehicle functions by programming the selected MyKey. The Ford Ranger is the only pick-up in Malaysia to feature this system.

Ways it enhances safety: The MyKey helps encourage safe and responsible driving. By setting various restrictions and alerts for the vehicle, the programmable safety system ensures that the person behind the wheel is able to handle the vehicle responsibly by limiting unnecessary risks. This also translates to increased peace of mind of the owner whenever the vehicle is driven by a friend or family member or by personnel of a company.

How it works: The programmable system allows the owner of the vehicle to pre-set various electronic and vehicle functions by programming the chosen MyKey. Owners can access several safety features and customise settings such as limiting the vehicle’s top speed, the maximum volume for the audio unit as well as seat belt reminders for all occupants. Once the programmed MyKey is used to start the vehicle the limits will activate, allowing the driver to work within the pre-set safety parameters of that vehicle.

For more information on Ford’s advanced safety systems and technology, log on to sdacford.com.my