Ford to Add Standard Anti-Rollover System to '05 Explorer

The first vehicle to offer RSC was Volvo's 2003 XC90, a Ford Motor brand. Success with the Volvo system was reason enough for Ford

One third of all passenger vehicle deaths, which is more than 10,000 people, die each year in rollovers. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

to offer it first on its upscale Lincoln sport utilities and now on its Ford branded SUVs. The compact Escape will not offer the anti-rollover system.

Ford's timing is definitely spot on, being that the U.S. federal government is pushing for automakers to integrate active safety systems. According to a Detroit News report, the Bush administration is requesting $5 million USD from Congress to go toward research and development of crash-avoidance technologies.

While rollovers only represent 3 percent of accidents, they claim more lives than other MVAs. To be more specific, one third of all

"Anything we can do to strengthen the Explorer brand, we're going to do," stated Ford's group vice president of North America product creation Phil Martens. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

passenger vehicle deaths, which is more than 10,000 people die each year in rollovers.

Ford, of course, maintains that the Explorer is one of the safest SUVs on the market, but nevertheless the truck is stained with a dark history.

"Anything we can do to strengthen the Explorer brand, we're going to do," stated Ford's group vice president of North America product creation Phil Martens. "We still feel that it is a very strong brand and we think there is tremendous brand equity in it."