The Insurance Institute last week published a report that Kansas City personal injury lawyers would find interesting. The report outlined how technology can be used to help reduce pedestrian accident fatalities.
The Insurance Institute study looked at the most common kinds of pedestrian accident scenarios, and found that these involved pedestrians crossing the road and a vehicle traveling straight at them. The Insurance Institute believes that accidents like this can be prevented through the use of forward collision warning systems with pedestrian detection. Forward collision warning systems can now be found on several automobiles. Last year, Volvo introduced pedestrian detection systems in the S60 sedan. According to Volvo, if the system was introduced on all vehicles, it could reduce pedestrian fatalities by approximately 24%.
Apart from pedestrian detection systems, there are other technologies that can be used to minimize the risk of serious or fatal injuries to pedestrians.
Other European automakers are looking at a change to the design of the automobile to ensure that fewer injuries are caused to a pedestrian during a collision.
Subaru has also introduced pedestrian detection systems, which include cameras and recognize pedestrians and bicyclists. Subaru’s technology also allows the system to apply the brakes automatically if the driver fails to respond to a warning. Audi is also working on a pedestrian detection system using sensors. The system also automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to stop in time to avoid a pedestrian. Mercedes and BMW have night vision features in their pedestrian detection systems that allow motorists to detect pedestrians even at night.
I, as a Kansas City personal injury attorney, will find it a little disappointing that most of the progress in pedestrian safety seems to be happening overseas. In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had once considered design modifications to the front of vehicles to reduce pedestrian fatalities, but those plans were soon abandoned.
