Self Parking Cars: Gadget Madness?

A nifty gadget from Ford seems like a waste toFor anyone who took Driver's Ed, parallel parking
some critics. Then again, when you see how itis essential part of the driving learning experience.
could help cancer survivors, you'll see how ActiveAt first, you used cones to see if you could
Park Assist can make a real difference in the livesparallel park without scratching another car, but
of some drivers. I must admit that when I heardthat quickly changed to parking between real cars,
a few years back that Toyota would outfit selectwhich is part of any road test. Fail that part of
Lexus models with a self parking feature Ithe test and you didn't receive your license.
thought to myself, “Those wimps! I learned toBut, critics may be missing out on one segment
drive in a 1969 Chrysler Newport convertible, aof the driving populace who could benefit from
car that had the worst blind spot imaginable.”Active Park Assist, namely breast cancer
Well, no one asked for my opinion back then andsurvivors. Yes, if you happen to know someone
I'm sure they aren't about to beat down my doorwho recently went through radical surgery, such
now for my thoughts, especially as the Fordas a mastectomy, you'd understand that one of
Motor Company has announced that they, too, willthe weaknesses women experience following
offer parking assist beginning next summer in itssurgery is in the upper body area, namely the
full sized Lincoln MKS sedan and in its all newarms and in the shoulders.
crossover, the Lincoln MKT.Because lymph nodes are removed from
Yes, gadget madness is alive and well and Fordunderneath the arm during surgery, some women
has joined the fray. Critics have chimed in toreport that their strength has been compromised.
suggest that Ford should direct limited resourcesThus any sort of active movement involving the
to building products and other stuff that peopleupper part of the body can be difficult, even
really want. Some have suggested that Ford ispainful, despite having access to power steering.
wasting money, doing the sort of thing that isSo, a technological feature such as Active Park
contributing to its current financial woes.Assist could help people with a loss of upper body
But is Ford's Active Park Assist too much of astrength. Then again, lousy parkers of all ages
boutique option to be of any use? According tocould benefit from this nifty gadget.
Ford, Active Park Assist will work with just oneLest you think that Ford will be offering Active
touch of a button, allowing drivers to parallel parkPark Assist to limited buyers you may be
quickly, easily and safely without ever touchinginterested in knowing that the feature will likely be
the steering wheel.made available across all car lines as soon as 2012.