Motorists are now more in a rush than ever with America’s fast-paced lifestyle of always staying on the go whether it’s to work, a family event, running various personal errands, and more. However, it’s up to all motorists to be mindful of pedestrian safety. Human error is imminent in this fast-paced world, so if you can drive a vehicle with car technologies that help with pedestrian safety, do so! Let’s cover some of the basic car technologies that protect pedestrians.
Driver-Assist Systems (DAS)
Drive-assist systems (DAS) are one of the most modern technologies that keep pedestrians safe and help drivers be mindful of their surroundings. Advanced modern technology in newer vehicles with a DAS installed allows the unit to detect pedestrians even when the driver does not see them. This phenomenon reduces the margin for human error while keeping everyone safe.
Unfortunately, in 2022, about 42,514 individuals in the United States lost their lives due to motor vehicle crashes. The crashes where a pedestrian perished could have been prevented if the driver’s vehicle contained a DAS.
DAS technologies utilize multiple cameras pointing to the vehicle’s exterior to evaluate activity occurring while a driver backs out of a parking spot. Hence, the backup camera is one key driver assistance technology for pedestrian safety. If the driver does not see a pedestrian while they are backing out, DAS will automatically detect the pedestrian’s movement and stop the vehicle so he or she can safely pass by.
Pedestrian Protection System (PPS)
If DAS fails and there is a pedestrian impact, the Pedestrian Protection System (PPS) will act as a backup technology for pedestrian safety if your vehicle has it. Most accidents involving pedestrians happen in a head-on collision. Hence, the PPS will slightly raise the hood to accommodate the pedestrian impact after sensors detect the pedestrian’s presence, reducing the likelihood of major injuries.
For example, a Bosch vehicle contains three units for the PPS including the airbag control unit, a peripheral acceleration sensor (PAS), and the pressure tube sensor. The PAS will notify the vehicle of the angle at which the pedestrian is about to hit the front of the vehicle and how much impact the crash will have on them. The pressure tube sensor detects the pedestrian impact and has the system kick in within 5 milliseconds of the vehicle’s technologies foreseeing the accident. The airbag control unit has helped to save about 90,000 people since it was launched on the market.
Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking
The pedestrian automatic emergency braking system in more modern vehicles quickly analyzes the potential of a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian if someone is walking or biking in front of your vehicle as it’s oncoming. If the driver has not started breaking in time to prevent impact, the vehicle will automatically apply an emergency brake to stop the vehicle and let the pedestrian pass safely.
Conclusion
With pedestrian deaths at a 40 year high in the US, far too many lives are being lost. While most accidents occur on busy city streets and 77% of pedestrian accidents occur at night, these tragedies can happen at any time. Advanced technologies being implemented on new cars can help drivers avoid a devastating accident and protect vulnerable road users.
