Ford has announced that it's developing a pothole alert system that could allow drivers to alter their routes in order to avoid potentially hazardous road surfaces.
The system relies on crowd-generated data, meaning that Ford drivers who discover a pothole will automatically beam the information to the company's cloud-sharing system which will then relay it to other Ford owners.
Information will appear on the vehicle's dashboard in the form of a map, in real time, showing drivers the location and severity of the pothole.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Leading the project is Uwe Hoffmann, who says that "a virtual pothole map could highlight a new pothole the minute it appears and almost immediately warn other drivers that there is a hazard ahead".
He adds that the company's vehicles "already feature sensors that detect potholes and now we are looking at taking this to the next level".
The firm's S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs, as well as the Mondeo saloon, currently feature systems that adjust the damping of the suspension to reduce the impact of potholes.
There's no word on when the new safety feature will be released, but Ford is currently trialling the system at its research facility in Germany.
During the 2015/2016 fiscal year, drivers made "31,483 claims against councils for vehicles damage caused by poor road conditions", says the RAC. The average value of a claim was £432, although "councils only paid out in just over a quarter" of all cases.
-
Tom Phillips: the manhunt for forest fugitive and his abducted childrenIn the Spotlight Three children recovered safely after four-year manhunt ends in police shootout
-
Codeword: September 9, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: September 9, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Ford Fiesta 2022 review: what the car critics sayfeature The Fiesta remains the ‘best car in its class to drive’ – by some margin
-
Ford Focus review: after 25 years it still impressesfeature Fun and engaging to drive, the Focus has been treated to a mid-life update
-
Ford Kuga FHEV reviews: what the car critics sayfeature At an affordable price, the Kuga delivers on its potential as an efficient family SUV
-
Ford Transit Custom Nugget: adventures on and off the roadSpeed Read New long wheelbase model offers more interior space for camping enthusiasts
-
Best electric cars on sale in 2020: Tesla Roadster, BMW iX3, Honda e and moreSpeed Read A look at the top EVs on the market - and what’s coming up this year
-
Le Mans ’66 (Ford v Ferrari) review: high-octane flick races into cinemasThe Week Recommends Matt Damon and Christian Bale star in a gripping motorsport tale
-
LA Auto Show 2019 review: VW ID Space Vizzion, Ford Mustang Mach-E and moreThe Week Recommends Carmakers have started unveiling their latest offerings. Here are all the big announcements so far
-
Keyless theft: why it takes only ten seconds to steal a new carIn Depth What you need to know about keyless theft - and how to prevent it
