Active Safety Systems:
* Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): This system uses sensors to detect potential collisions with pedestrians and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or mitigate the impact.
* Pedestrian Detection: A more advanced form of AEB, pedestrian detection systems can specifically identify pedestrians in the path of the vehicle and trigger an emergency stop.
* Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): ACC maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, helping to prevent rear-end collisions and thus potentially protect pedestrians.
* Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane, preventing potential collisions with pedestrians in adjacent lanes.
* Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM): Warns the driver of vehicles in the blind spot, reducing the risk of hitting a pedestrian when changing lanes.
Passive Safety Features:
* Crumple Zones: These strategically placed zones in the vehicle's structure are designed to absorb and dissipate impact energy in a collision, minimizing the force transferred to the pedestrian.
* Energy-absorbing Hoods: These hoods are designed to deform and absorb impact energy, reducing the severity of head injuries to pedestrians.
* External Lighting: High-intensity headlights and daytime running lights improve visibility, making pedestrians more noticeable to drivers.
* Active Hoods: These hoods are designed to lift up in a collision, creating a gap between the hood and the engine, minimizing the risk of serious head injuries.
Design Considerations:
* Lower Bumper Heights: Lower bumpers reduce the likelihood of serious injuries to pedestrians' legs and pelvis in a collision.
* Wider Windshields: Wider windshields offer drivers a broader field of vision, improving their awareness of pedestrians.
* Smooth Vehicle Front Ends: Eliminating sharp edges and protruding objects on the front of the vehicle minimizes the risk of pedestrian lacerations.
* Airbags: While primarily for occupant safety, airbags can also help cushion pedestrians who are struck by a vehicle.
Other Initiatives:
* Collaboration with Safety Organizations: Car manufacturers work closely with organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to develop and implement safety standards and conduct research on pedestrian protection.
* Extensive Testing: Vehicles undergo rigorous testing to ensure their safety performance in various collision scenarios, including those involving pedestrians.
By integrating these measures, car manufacturers are significantly reducing the risk of pedestrian injuries and saving lives.
