Photo of 2016 Ford Explorer courtesy of Ford.

Photo of 2016 Ford Explorer courtesy of Ford.

Ford Motor Co. is introducing new vehicle camera technology that can help drivers see around corners, helping reduce stress and potentially averting accidents.

The new available split-view camera feature helps drivers see traffic and obstacles that enter the vehicle’s path from the side. The system displays a 180-degree view of the area in front of or behind the vehicle.

Split view uses real-time video feeds from 1-megapixel wide-angle lens cameras in the grille and tailgate. A tri-panel display in the 8-inch screen helps drivers determine quickly whether an obstacle is coming from either side or straight on. The split-view feature is activated at the touch of a button and automatically shuts off when vehicle speed reaches 6.2 mph (10 kph).

Ford introduced split view on the 2015 model-year Ford Edge and 2016-MY Explorer in the U.S. and China. Front split view is offered on the Edge. In the U.S., front and rear split view comes standard on the 2016-MY Explorer Limited, on sale now, and the Explorer Platinum, on sale soon.

Front split view is coming to the all-new Ford S-MAX and Galaxy in Europe, available to order now. Split view will be offered on nearly all Ford SUVs globally by 2020, Ford said.

A tiny telescopic jet washer keeps the front camera clean on every vehicle with split view. Explorer also incorporates a washer for the rear camera.

Ford plans to make rear-view cameras standard on all of its North American light passenger vehicles by 2018 – and front cameras available on a majority of its vehicles globally by volume by 2020. That means the automaker plans to put more than 2 million new cameras a year on the road.

Ford introduced rear-view cameras in the 2007 Expedition and now offers an available backup camera in every Ford car, SUV and light truck in North America. Backup cameras are standard in Focus, Fusion, Explorer, Escape, Edge and Mustang vehicles.

The next Ford Super Duty trucks will offer the company’s most advanced camera technology, helping with lane-keeping assistance and enabling drivers to see more angles around a truck and trailer than ever before, Ford said. This technology will feature as many as seven cameras and all-new digital architecture.

The 2016 F-150 truck has up to five cameras available, currently the most of any vehicle in the Ford lineup. Four cameras are mounted in the outside mirrors and rear and front of the vehicle to enable a 360-degree view and backup view functions. A forward-looking camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror is used to activate auto high beams and lane-keeping assist, which looks for lane deviations. The driver never sees the image from this camera, but the vehicle’s computer uses the visual signal to operate the rest of the system.

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