Even though the market isn't ready for a driverless car yet, that isn't stopping automakers from marketing components that move cars in that direction. Recently, the Ford Motor Company announced "lane-keeping technology" for the 2013 Ford Explorer and the Ford Fusion.

The technology is designed to help keep drivers who are falling asleep from causing car accidents. Part of the "Driver Alert System" includes warnings that flash when the car weaves outside its lanes. If the technology can be implemented successfully, it could help hundreds of car accidents in Philadelphia and throughout the country.

If lane-keeping technology worked perfectly, it could save lives. But there are doubts as to whether this system will work properly. Moreover, at this point, the technology only works well on certain road conditions.

The technology depends on a camera that is mounted on the rearview mirror. When the vehicle is traveling more than 40 miles per hour and the system is turned on, the camera uses the lane markings on the road to determine when the vehicle moves out of its lane. Unless the turn signal is on, a vibration is sent to the steering wheel.

If the driver fails to correct the veering, the car's power steering is supposed to engage to bring the car back to the center of the lane. There have been difficulties with the camera in recent tests, including not clearly seeing the lane markings when the sun is at a low angle, when there is heavy precipitation or when the car is traveling around a curve. The system remains dormant if the markings are unseen by the camera.

Source: The New York Times, "Trying to Nudge Drowsy Drivers," Randall Stross, Jan. 21, 2012