VIDEO: Ford developing quick-steer to avoid accidents

Ford has announced that it will soon offer a new steering system that automatically speeds up the steering ratio if it detects a collision is inevitable under braking alone.

The system, described as semi-autonomous, will not steer for you. Instead, when it detects the car's rate of deceleration is simply not enough to prevent you hitting the car in front the system speeds up the variable-ratio steering to help you swerve away from an impact.

Relying on the autonomous emergency braking system's radar and front camera to make a judgement, the new evasive steering assist could soon be offered on all models.

As well as evasive steering, Ford says it is also developing a driving aid that will prevent drivers from entering a highway from the wrong direction. Using the on-board traffic sign recognition system it's not known if the safety device will stop the car or alert the driver.

In the future the US car-maker will also offer clever headlights that alter their beam at junctions, roundabouts and react to traffic signs.

Other new driver aids on the way include a fully autonomous park assist that does not need any driver input when reversing into a space and a cross-traffic alert that alerts oncoming traffic when the vehicle is reversing.