Ford's Vibrating Stick Shift Teaches New Drivers How to Drive a Manual

WESTLAND, Mich. - The question of whether a manual or automatic provides a better drive is a continuous battle, with many drivers preferring to drive with a stick shift. However, the newest generation of drivers are learning to drive with automatics and never learning how to operate a manual transmission. This may soon be a thing of the past however, as Ford's vibrating stick shift teaches new drivers how to drive a manual.

This new technology is great for new drivers because of its alert system - the shift knob will vibrate when it is time to change gears. In most cases, an LED screen is located on top of the shift knob (seen in the above picture) which lets the driver know which gear the car is currently in. The engineer that has designed the knob has also said that drivers can program the shifter to better fit their driving needs. Specifically, someone looking for better fuel economy can adjust the shift to alert them when the most efficient time to shift is.

So how does the shifter know when it is time to change gears? It is connected to your vehicle's on-board diagnostic system and uses real-time data from your car. When your vehicle is ready to shift, the shifter reads the information from your car and alerts the driver that it is time to switch gears. You can see the gear in action by watching the video below.

Ford's vibrating stick shift that teaches new drivers how to drive a manual is not yet available, but will soon be sold to the public. If you'd like to talk about getting a manual transmission in your next vehicle, come see us at our Belleville Area Ford Dealer and our knowledgeable staff can go over all your options. We also have a variety of New Ford Cars and Certified Pre-Owned Cars For Sale that already have manual transmissions, so make sure to check those out! We look forward to seeing you soon!

North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

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Kelsey’s Law To Ban Teens Talking And Driving

WESTLAND, Mich.- Kelsey’s Law, a new law added to the Michigan Vehicle Code that bans teenage drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving, takes effect today, March 28, 2013. The law was signed by Governor Rick Synder because of the danger of new drivers being distracted by their cell phones. The law is named after Kesey Raffaele, a 17 year-old resident of Sault Ste. Marie, who was killed in a 2010 car accident that occurred while she was talking on her cell phone. The law applies to Level 1 and 2 drivers but not Level 3 drivers—Level 1 is a supervised learner's license, Level 2 is an intermediate license that limits passengers and unsupervised nighttime driving, and Level 3 is a full-privilege driver's license. Level 1 and 2 Drivers will be fined up to $295 in fines and costs and will be convicted for a civil infraction for trying to make a phone call, answering a phone call, listening to a phone call, or for engaging in verbal conversation through a cell phone. However, this does not apply if they are reporting an accident, emergency, dangerous road hazard, a crime, or a situation where their personal safety is in jeopardy. State legislators believe that this will result in a reduction in car accidents in the State. 

Ford SYNC, a voice activated communications system developed by Ford Motor Company, addresses the issue of distracted driving because it allows for hands-free communication, navigation, and entertainment. The Ford SYNC system complies with Kelsey’s law because the law was written to allow individuals to use voice-operated systems integrated into their cars. Ford vehicles that include this system include the 2013 Fusion, Expedition, Mustang, Focus, Fiesta, Taurus, Edge, Flex, and numerous other models.

We can help you drive off in a brand new Ford vehicle outfitted with SYNC! We have a wide inventory of New Ford Cars as well as the ability to help with Used Car Loans. North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+