Ford's in-car Sync service has been a popular addition to many vehicles, providing drivers with controls for their music, navigation and other resources in one place. However, more drivers are probably familiar with General Motor's OnStar platform.

In a step to help Sync better compete with the OnStar service, Ford has announced the addition of live operators. The system was previously controlled entirely by voice, but now if users have an issue, they can contact a human to help out with directions or business look-ups.

"This isn't just about offering customers a back-up option to the services we have already. This is about giving customers a variety of choices when it comes to how they would like to receive information," Doug VanDagens, director of Ford's Connected Services Solutions Organization, told USA Today.

There's no doubt that being able to contact a live human can be incredibly beneficial during a breakdown or accident. However, drivers should not simply treat this as a complete safety net. The best way to handle accidents and breakdowns is to avoid them entirely through the use of regular maintenance like tune-ups, oil changes and vehicle inspections.