Skip to main content

Ford has Edge on rural driving

Ford has introduced a solution for rural roads which it says can gently steer a vehicle back on track when needed.
By Ben Spencer April 17, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Ford steers drivers from the Edge of rural roads (© Michael Smith | Dreamstime.com)

Road Edge Detection is designed for country driving at speeds of 45-70mph and uses a camera located below the rearview mirror to monitor road edges 50m in front of the vehicle and 7m to the side, the company adds. 

Rüdiger Kieneke, Ford driver assistance and safety electronics engineer, says: “Rural roads can be every bit as challenging for drivers as urban streets – especially for those who may be unfamiliar with their route. Road Edge Detection helps alleviate one concern to make journeys more comfortable and easier.”

The system's advanced algorithm is expected to determine when there are clear structural changes from the road to the nearby area while also offering steering support on roads when lane marking is obscured or hidden by leaves, snow or rain. 

According to Ford, the system vibrates the steering wheel if the driver is still close to the edge following initial steering support.

Related Content

  • Progressing work zone safety systems
    February 6, 2012
    David Crawford investigates progress in a key safety area - work zones
  • euroFOT study demonstrates benefits of driver assistance systems
    June 26, 2012
    Today, the euroFOT consortium published the findings of a four-year study focused on the impact of driver assistance systems in the Europe. The €22 million (US$27.5 million) European Field Operational Test (euroFOT) project which began in June 2008 and involved 28 companies and organisations, was led by Aria Etemad from Ford’s European Research Centre in Aachen, Germany. The study looked at existing technologies and their potential to both enhance safety and reduce environmental impact. euroFOT also reveale
  • AV trucks now operating in $8.8m pilot between Ohio and Indiana
    April 16, 2025
    Two tractor-trailers are travelling on I-70 between Columbus and Indianapolis
  • Managed motorways, hard shoulder running aids safety, saves time
    January 30, 2012
    The announcement that, in 2012/13, work to extend Managed Motorways to Junctions 5-8 of the M6 near Birmingham in the West Midlands is scheduled to start marks the next step for the UK's hard shoulder running concept, first introduced on the M42 in 2006. The M6 scheme is in fact one of several announced; over the next few years work will start on applying Managed Motorways to various sections of the M1, M25 London Orbital, M60 and M62. According to Paul Unwin, senior project manager with the Highways Agency