(November 5, 2010) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Ford Motor Company and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) New England University Transportation Center (NEUTC) has revealed results from a nine-month advanced research project that shows drivers are less stressed when using selected new technological advancements in the car.

This study is an extension of an ongoing alliance between Ford and MIT to improve driver focus, wellness and safety through the integration of vehicle technology.

"Ford's collaboration with MIT and NEUTC is an important pathway to the future of transportation," said Joe Coughlin, director ofMIT's New England University Transportation Center. "This study, which yielded significant results, showed ways we can use new technology to improve well-being and performance behind the wheel."

The study monitored drivers as they performed perceived "high-stress" tasks such as parallel parking and backing out of parking spaces with restricted visibility. The results showed a reduction in both self-reported stress levels and objective physiological measures used to monitor driver stress load.

These findings were strongest in the parallel parking study, where use of Ford Motor Company's Active Park Assist feature in the Lincoln MKS helped to significantly reduce stress on drivers compared to the manual operation of performing the same task. When backing out of parking spaces with Cross-Traffic Alert, drivers were more likely to appropriately stop and yield to an approaching vehicle than when the Cross-Traffic Alert system was unavailable.

Today's consumers are seeking every edge they can in the pursuit of healthier and happier lives, yet record levels of stress are being reported. According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, people in their late 30s to mid-50s are actually reporting the lowest state of well-being over their lifetimes.  Just as stress builds up incrementally throughout the day, taking proactive steps to decrease stress is important to counterbalance and maintain overall well-being.

"The fact is that middle-aged Americans are at the highest point of stress and unfortunately at the lowest point of well-being in their entire life span," said Coughlin. "The volume, velocity and the complexity of today's lifestyle is causing individuals to report an increase in stress and a decrease in enjoyment behind the wheel."

For the past seven years, Ford has been actively collaborating with MIT's New England University Transportation Center to understand the correlation between stressors and driving performance and identify technological advancements that both mitigate stress and create a more enjoyable experience. The conceptual framework for this work, released in a white paper last year, can be found at http://agelab.mit.edu/system/files/file/Driver_Wellness.pdf.

"As an industry leader at the forefront of vehicle safety and security, Ford is investing in research to reduce driver stress, increase driver focus and ultimately renew the positive experience of driving and riding in an automobile," said Andy Sarkisian, global product planning and strategy manager, Ford Motor Company. "Since 2004, Ford has been committed to implementing technological innovations that continue to further the democratization of technology so every driver has access to affordable, convenient, intuitive features."