Ford Fiesta hatchback is getting an advanced safety system called Active City Stop. It uses sophisticated light-detecting and ranging sensor to scan the road ahead 50 times every second, capturing and analyzing 15 images in a blink of an eye, all to help prevent collisions at speeds up to 10mph.

10mph collisions are not dangerous, not even to pedestrians, but they can damage the car. So this system is not entirely useless. It also helps reduce the severity of impacts at speeds below 20mph. Another use of this system is that Fiestas equipped with Active City Stop qualify for a 15 per cent discount deducted from the first annual motor insurance premium with Ford Insure.

As with every other radar-based safety system, Active City Stop first tries to warn the driver. It he fails to respond in time, the system simultaneously applies the brakes, reduces engine torque, and activates the rear hazard lights.

Active City Stop, already available on Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and the new Ford B-MAX, is offered as part of an optional Driver Assistance Pack on Fiesta. Priced from £250, this package also includes rear parking sensors and powerfold mirrors.