Why? Just … why?

[Jimrpa]

Two things:
First, to reiterate: yes, Yes, YES I KNOW I can hit the “OK” button to dismiss the alert. That is NOT my issue. My issue is: why have the alert at all?
Second, to be VERY clear on my objection to the alert, I performed the following test.

1. Came out to the vehicle. It was stopped and turned off.
2. Opened the driver’s door to put a small parcel in on the passenger side floor. Did NOT close the driver’s door.
3. Opened the driver’s rear door and fastened the rear driver’s side seat belt. Note that there was no passenger. Just a fastened seat belt.
4. Closed the rear driver’s door.
5. Got in the driver’s seat, closed the driver’s door, fastened my seatbelt and turned the car on.
6. Drove off to my house
7. About 10 minutes away from my house, I pulled into a parking lot, stopped, PUT THE TRANSMISSION DIAL IN P (Park).
8. Turned and reached behind to open the driver’s side rear door (did NOT open the driver’s door or unlatch my seat belt).
9. Unbuckled the driver’s side rear seat belt.
10. Closed the rear passenger door
11. Put the car in drive and drove home

The warning stayed in the screen from step 9 until I turned off the car.
consider: the warning is totally unneeded in the above scenario. The vehicle was at a complete stop, in park, when the seat belt was undone. The passenger door was opened and closed while the car was in park. Totally consistent with a passenger getting out of the car.
Clearly, no seat weight sensors are involved. There was no person or other weight on the rear seat anywhere.
So, again, why? The only even semi-coherent reason offered is regulatory.

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[Mach1E]

With every safety system, there is a balance between reasonable precaution and nuisance. They are supposed to be designed to strike this balance - not cover every possible contingency.

The “well what if the rear occupant unbuckles but then carefully stands in the rear footwell so as not to trigger the weight sensor” is a great example of one such rare contingency that tips the balance toward nuisance. Even for a child it would take careful balance to stand in such a small space without bumping into the rear seat.

Some of you are giving Ford WAY too much credit. This reminds me of some people trying to justify why Ford has made it impossible to permanently toggle off the alarm interior motion sensors. I’m using DUCT TAPE on sensors because of poor design.

Ah, you either don’t have little kids or it’s been a long time since you have.

It’s not “every contingency.”

It’s pretty straightforward.

Weight in seat, unbuckled = alert

Previously buckled, car still on and moving = alert.

Why? Safety.

Kids crawl out of seats, switch seats, try to get in the front, back, whatever.

Most of the time these safety features exist because some weird ultra rare tragedy happens (like a kid falling out a window) and then they figure out ways to prevent it.

I mean, how long have billions of people had to take their shoes off at the airport scanner because of 1 person and a shoe bomb?

 

[Mach1E]

Two things:
First, to reiterate: yes, Yes, YES I KNOW I can hit the “OK” button to dismiss the alert. That is NOT my issue. My issue is: why have the alert at all?
Second, to be VERY clear on my objection to the alert, I performed the following test.

1. Came out to the vehicle. It was stopped and turned off.
2. Opened the driver’s door to put a small parcel in on the passenger side floor. Did NOT close the driver’s door.
3. Opened the driver’s rear door and fastened the rear driver’s side seat belt. Note that there was no passenger. Just a fastened seat belt.
4. Closed the rear driver’s door.
5. Got in the driver’s seat, closed the driver’s door, fastened my seatbelt and turned the car on.
6. Drove off to my house
7. About 10 minutes away from my house, I pulled into a parking lot, stopped, PUT THE TRANSMISSION DIAL IN P (Park).
8. Turned and reached behind to open the driver’s side rear door (did NOT open the driver’s door or unlatch my seat belt).
9. Unbuckled the driver’s side rear seat belt.
10. Closed the rear passenger door
11. Put the car in drive and drove home

The warning stayed in the screen from step 9 until I turned off the car.
consider: the warning is totally unneeded in the above scenario. The vehicle was at a complete stop, in park, when the seat belt was undone. The passenger door was opened and closed while the car was in park. Totally consistent with a passenger getting out of the car.
Clearly, no seat weight sensors are involved. There was no person or other weight on the rear seat anywhere.
So, again, why? The only even semi-coherent reason offered is regulatory.

Yup. Likely regulatory.

This at least let’s us know the “logic” of the alert.

It’s simply an alert that a seatbelt WAS buckled and is now unbuckled.

Outside of the strange test above, most of the time it’ll be because a person did it.

Would make for an annoying UBER or TAXI with the alert all the time.

 

[generaltso]

Always good to check and make sure you haven’t left the random sweltering baby in the backseat like happens so often in Phoenix
Jes sayin. Maybe it’s a phantom baby sensor

Again, the rear seat occupant reminder is not what is being discussed.

 

[macchiaz-o]

A good feature for road tripping with a seven year old.

"Hey, put your belt back on."

Also works well when my Dad's a passenger.

 

[mmap]

I know the front passenger has a sensor, because it is required for the "under 50 lbs disable airbag" safety requirement.

Do the rear seats in the MachE have weight sensors?

 

[MG101]

First to the op. I get it, the message is obtrusive and obnoxious. I like the colors though reminds me of houses and hotels in monopoly.

Now to whom it may concern. Sorry, I hate to "well actually" twice in the same thread but it's driving me a little nuts.

THERE ARE NO WEIGHT SENSORS IN THE REAR SEATS.

Page 142 of the owners manual

REAR OCCUPANT ALERT SYSTEM LIMITATIONS The system does not detect the presence of objects or passengers in the rear seat. It monitors when rear doors are opened and closed.

Know why? Because there are no sensors in the rear seats

Those who still need to stick their fingers in the wound to believe...just try it. sit back there, don't buckle up and report back.

Sorry...

 

[Mach-Lee]

If a rear belt is unbuckled you will get an alert regardless of conditions. That’s all there is to it. Press OK and continue.

 

[Jimrpa]

Yup. Likely regulatory.

This at least let’s us know the “logic” of the alert.

It’s simply an alert that a seatbelt WAS buckled and is now unbuckled.

Outside of the strange test above, most of the time it’ll be because a person did it.

Would make for an annoying UBER or TAXI with the alert all the time.

The test was specifically meant to mimic my dropping off my friends since people came up with all these weird situations of children escaping seatbelts and running rampant, Seay weight sensors, and so on.

 

[Jimrpa]

First to the op. I get it, the message is obtrusive and obnoxious. I like the colors though reminds me of houses and hotels in monopoly.

Now to whom it may concern. Sorry, I hate to "well actually" twice in the same thread but it's driving me a little nuts.

THERE ARE NO WEIGHT SENSORS IN THE REAR SEATS.

Page 142 of the owners manual

REAR OCCUPANT ALERT SYSTEM LIMITATIONS The system does not detect the presence of objects or passengers in the rear seat. It monitors when rear doors are opened and closed.

Know why? Because there are no sensors in the rear seats

Those who still need to stick their fingers in the wound to believe...just try it. sit back there, don't buckle up and report back.

Sorry...

Again, we are NOT discussing the Rear Occupant Alert System here.

 

[Jimrpa]

If a rear belt is unbuckled you will get an alert regardless of conditions. That’s all there is to it. Press OK and continue.

Yes, yes, yes. As many people, including myself, have repeatedly stated, we know the alert can be dismissed by pressing “OK” (fun fact: the alert even lets you know you can press “OK” to dismiss it ?) The observation is that the alert, as configured, provides no useful or accurate information.

 

[generaltso]

The observation is that the alert, as configured, provides no useful or accurate information.

It‘s usefulness is up for debate, but how is it not accurate? The buckles really are unbuckled when it alerts you, right?

 

[Jimrpa]

It‘s usefulness is up for debate, but how is it not accurate? The buckles really are unbuckled when it alerts you, right?

well, if we are going to be pedantic, the title of the alert is “Seatbelts Warning”. If the intent is to indicate unbuckled seatbelts, then it should display a red exclamation point in the front passenger, rear passenger, and rear middle seats.
It appears that the only thing the alert is doing is telling me that a seatbelt that was previously buckled has been unbuckled. I would grant that there are circumstances where this information might be of interest while the car is in motion, but if the car is at a complete stop (or has come to a complete stop), the information becomes useless.

 

[Mirak]

Ah, you either don’t have little kids or it’s been a long time since you have.

It’s not “every contingency.”

It’s pretty straightforward.

Weight in seat, unbuckled = alert

Previously buckled, car still on and moving = alert.

Why? Safety.

Kids crawl out of seats, switch seats, try to get in the front, back, whatever.

Most of the time these safety features exist because some weird ultra rare tragedy happens (like a kid falling out a window) and then they figure out ways to prevent it.

I mean, how long have billions of people had to take their shoes off at the airport scanner because of 1 person and a shoe bomb?

So first, the problem is that the alert stays on even after the car comes to a full stop and has even been placed in park. If it switched off at that point, I’d be cool with it. But also….

I’ve got 3 kids. 3 boys. Young boys. Boys who unbuckle all the darned time. And yet…. They’ve never managed the precarious act of contorting themselves into just the right position to stand in the rear footwell for any period of time without making significant contact with the rear seat. And if they someone did pull off this cirque du soleil feat, you really think the driver needs an alert to tell them this? I’m gonna stop beating this dead horse, but I just find it funny how some people will twist themselves into such silly, implausible scenarios to justify poor design!

 

[generaltso]

It appears that the only thing the alert is doing is telling me that a seatbelt that was previously buckled has been unbuckled.

Yup. And that part is accurate.

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