Ford Motor is developing two new technologies to assist drivers in addressing traffic jams and parking challenges in populated urban areas.

The technology includes Traffic Jam Assist, an intelligent driving system which uses the existing technology from active park assist, adaptive cruise control, Lane-Keeping Aid and the PowerShift transmission to enable a vehicle to automatically keep pace with other vehicles.

The company is also developing an advanced version of the currently offered active park assist which offers hands-free perpendicular parking as well as reduce driver stress and help reduce traffic gridlock.

According to the carmaker, Traffic Jam Assist uses radar and camera technology which helps a vehicle to speed up with other vehicles in traffic and offer automated steering control to maintain lane position, further reducing driver stress and enhancing flow of vehicles.

Ford Research and Innovation engineer Joseph Urhahne said drivers spend more than 30% of their time in heavy traffic.

"Traffic Jam Assist could help make traveling through congestion a more relaxing experience and, by keeping pace with the flow of traffic, potentially help relieve road congestion," Urhahne said.

Ford is also planning to develop its active park assist technology, which allows drivers to parallel park without touching the wheel and is adding perpendicular parking to the currently possible parallel parking exercises.

Perpendicular parking functionality will use the vehicle's rear parking distance control sensors to detect obstacles not seen by the driver during backing into the space.