Ford Freestyle’s Active Rollover Prevention (ARP) System Saves The Day [VIDEO]

It was in July last year that MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways) along with ARAI (Automotive Regulatory Authority of India) rolled out the amendment for automotive industry standards for safety (AIS-145). This amendment made certain safety equipment to be offered as standard fitment on cars. With this amendment in place, the awareness of the safety equipment rose to a new level. Also, manufacturers started introducing advanced safety technology in small cars as well. Here’s a video we came across on YouTube, wherein a Ford Freestyle can be seen avoiding a crash due to the ARP (Active Rollover Prevention) system that it features. 

The video comes from the YouTube channel of Ford Lovers. It can be seen in the video that a truck swerves into the left-most lane to exit the highway. Meanwhile, this Ford freestyle was also in the same lane and approaching the truck at a decent speed. The active driver accelerates the car to avoid getting sandwiched between the side rails and the truck. While the Freestyle’s driver makes this manoeuvre, he also swerves to the right abruptly, which shifts the car’s centre of mass outside the circular path. Therefore, it tends to roll over.

It is now that the ARP (Active Rollover Prevention) system kicks in and saves the car from rolling over to its side. You might wonder how an electric system can do so.  The ARP comprises of a lateral force sensor, which is connected to the ECU. The sensor triggers when the lateral force exceeds the pre-defined value of the minimum force that is required to roll the car over. The sensor sends the signal to the ECU, which then cuts down on power and engine speed. The system then brakes each wheel with required force, while the reduced engine speeds reduces the gyroscopic effect through which a car can roll over.

The Ford Freestyle is one of the safest cars in its segment. Apart from the ARP, it also comes with safety equipment like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, seat belt warning, reverse parking camera with sensors, high-speed alert, traction control, electronic stability program, speed-sensing door lock, and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.