Autoblog

This week lawmakers will be proposing that stability-control systems be federally mandated for all new vehicles sold in the U.S. USA Today reports that comments will be taken for 90 days on the proposal and if approved a final rule could be issued as early as next year with a phase-in period to allow automakers enough time to disseminate the technology across their entire line ups.

Currently stability control is available on about half of all new models sold, but in some instances can cost up to $900 as an option. Studies have shown, however, that stability control can save a lot of lives, somewhere in the order of 10,000 per year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, if the technology were made standard, then fatal single-vehicle crashes would fall by 56% and the risk of single-vehicles crashes would drop 40%.

Since anti-lock brakes are an integral component in stability-control systems, the new rule would also make that technology standard across the board for the first time. Though it has never been federally mandated as standard equipment, ABS is now standard on 80% of all new vehicles sold.

[Source: USA Today]

Ford has already responded to a safety-conscious market and beefed up the level of standard safety equipment included in the 2007 Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, and its now apparent the new Edge CUV and its Lincoln MKX counterpart will hit dealer lots with loaded to the roof rack with safety equipment.

Both the Edge and MKX will include the following laundry list of safety features:
-    AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
-    Dual stage driver and front passenger airbags
-    Seat-mounted side air bags
-    Safety Canopy air curtain system
-    Driver seat positioning sensor
-    Passenger seat occupant classification sensor
-    Load-limiting safety belt retractors and pretensioners
-    Energy absorbing steering wheel, knee bolster and glove box 

Perhaps the best piece of safety equipment the Edge will be packing is its spankin’ new 3.5L V6 that produces 265 hp. Accident avoidance will be much easier with that much squirt on tap.

[Source: Ford]

With safety features being quite high on the list of features that manufacturers like to show off, we noticed a number of displays centered on occupant protection at this year's New York International Auto Show. Volvo, Hyundai, and Volkswagen gave us a chance to peek under the sheetmetal to see what automakers do to keep passengers safe during violent impacts.