Ford's New Onboard Software: A Prelude To Rising Accidents

Ford’s (NYSE:F) slogan used to be “Have You Driven A Ford Lately?” Those who have not will find that the firm’s new cars come with access to Twitter, online maps, internet radio, and many other things that work over the web.

Ford’s Sync software array has helped the company sell cars. The firm claims that those vehicles with the feature sell twice as fast as those without it. According to The Los Angeles Times, “So far, Sync appears to be helping Ford with its turnaround.”

Sync is also an ideal way to cause a lot of car accidents. A number of state and even the federal government are at work on legislation that would ban the use of cell phones in cars. People typing messages on their BlackBerries apparently get into many more accidents that those who drive their vehicles the old-fashioned way. Many drivers have enough trouble locating the turn signal on new age cars.

Car companies get sued for all sorts of things. Gas tanks that explode. Faulty accelerators. Floor mates that catch people’s feet. The new generation of software-powered cars will make personal liability lawyers a lot of money. Count on it.

Douglas A. McIntyre