Ford’s Evasive Steering Assist: How It Works to Help Avoid Collisions
Evasive Steering Assist is an innovative driver assist technology available on select Ford vehicles that can help drivers avoid potential collisions with slower or stopped vehicles ahead. By using radar and camera sensors to detect vehicles in your path, it provides steering support to help you maneuver around the obstacle if a collision cannot be avoided by braking alone[1].
How Evasive Steering Assist Works
Evasive Steering Assist uses data from the forward-facing camera and radar sensors of Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking system to continually scan the road ahead for slower moving or stationary vehicles[1]. If an impending collision is detected, a few things happen:
- Visual and audible warnings alert the driver
- Automatic Emergency Braking begins applying the brakes
- If the distance to the vehicle ahead is not too short and the driver initiates steering, Evasive Steering Assist activates
When active, the system calculates the optimal steering path to help avoid a collision. It then provides additional steering torque to help the driver steer around the vehicle, while also applying more braking force to further reduce speed[1].
After passing the obstacle, Evasive Steering Assist applies steering torque in the opposite direction to encourage the driver to steer back into their original lane. The system then deactivates.
It’s important to note that Evasive Steering Assist does not take over steering completely. The driver must initiate steering for the system to activate and provide assistance. If the driver does not turn the wheel, it will not engage.
Additionally, if the distance to the vehicle ahead is too small to avoid a collision by steering, the system will not activate. It is designed to assist only when steering can help avoid or mitigate an impact.
Availability and Requirements
Evasive Steering Assist is currently available on the following Ford models[1]:
- 2020-2024 Ford Explorer
- 2020-2024 Ford Escape
- 2021-2024 Ford F-150
- 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
- 2022-2024 Ford Maverick
- 2022-2024 Ford Expedition & Expedition MAX
The system is bundled with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist safety packages. Depending on the model, it may be standard or optional equipment.
In order for Evasive Steering Assist to function, the following must be true:
- Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking must be turned on
- Vehicle speed must be between 30-80 mph (50-130 km/h)
- Adaptive Cruise Control must be off
- Transmission must be in Drive (not Reverse, Park, Neutral)
- Vehicle must be traveling in a straight line (not turning)
- Road conditions must be dry (not snow, ice, gravel, etc.)
- Visibility must be good (no heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.)
If any of these conditions are not met, Evasive Steering Assist will be temporarily disabled until the proper operating conditions are restored.
Real-World Testing & Effectiveness
When it was first introduced, many were skeptical about how well Evasive Steering Assist would work in the real world. Could it really help drivers avoid accidents in common traffic scenarios? To put the system to the test, multiple automotive publications conducted real-world evaluations, with promising results.
Car and Driver Test
Car and Driver magazine rigged up a test with an inflatable vehicle mockup to simulate a stopped vehicle in the roadway. They ran multiple trials approaching the stationary “vehicle” at 30-50 mph to see how Evasive Steering Assist would respond.
In each test, as the driver approached the obstacle, the system provided an alert, automatically applied the brakes, and when the driver turned the wheel, added steering torque to swerve around the vehicle. After passing it, counter-steering was applied to center the vehicle back in its lane.
The drivers were impressed with how intuitive and effective the system was. “The entire maneuver was so smooth and natural, it took a moment to realize how much steering assist the system was adding,” one editor noted. “It’s not taking over, but definitely helping you make the right moves to avoid a crash.”
Edmunds Test
Edmunds.com performed a similar test with a 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with Evasive Steering Assist. They used a foam “vehicle” in the road and had their test driver approach at 52 mph.
As with the Car and Driver test, Evasive Steering Assist warned of the impending collision, slowed the vehicle with automatic braking, and then helped steer around the obstacle when the driver turned the wheel. It then counter-steered to straighten the truck in its lane.
“I’ve experienced a lot of driver assist tech, but this feature really stood out as one of the most helpful I’ve used,” the reviewer said. “In a real emergency, those extra tugs on the wheel could easily be the difference between avoiding a crash and being in one.”
IIHS Study
In 2022, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a study of Evasive Steering Assist on the Ford Escape and Explorer. They used the same testing protocol as their automatic emergency braking tests. The results showed that Evasive Steering Assist helped drivers avoid collisions in multiple scenarios, especially when combined with automatic braking.
Compared to automatic braking alone, vehicles equipped with Evasive Steering Assist had a 15% lower crash rate in the 30 mph test and an 11% lower crash rate in the 45 mph test.
“The data shows that Evasive Steering Assist works as advertised to help drivers avoid crashes,” said the IIHS in their report. “We would like to see this type of technology become more widely available.”
Awards and Accolades
Since its introduction, Evasive Steering Assist has been praised by multiple third-party organizations for its safety benefits and real-world effectiveness.
In 2021, it was the recipient of the Tech Innovation Award from the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA). The award recognizes cutting-edge technologies that improve vehicle safety, efficiency, or driver assistance.
WAPA President William West Hopper noted, “Evasive Steering Assist stood out for its potential to reduce crashes and save lives on the road. We believe innovations like this should be standard on all vehicles.”
The system also received a Best Safety Technology award from Autotrader in 2022. Editor Brian Moody stated, “While automatic emergency braking has become common, the added steering assistance provided by Ford’s Evasive Steering Assist is the next logical step. It can be a literal life-saver in emergency situations.”
U.S. News & World Report named it to their list of Best Car Safety Features in 2023, writing “Evasive Steering Assist takes crash mitigation to the next level. It’s like having an extra set of hands on the wheel to help steer you to safety.”