The BMW X1 didn't even appear to slow down as it barreled toward a dummy on the IIHS' test track in Virginia. With a pop, the small crossover SUV plowed into the dummy, launching it into the air. Nine of 11 crossover SUVs tested by the IIHS had no problem automatically applying the brakes in enough...Read More»
Pedestrians walking in populous areas of Florida are more likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle than in any other state. A new study found Florida is the most dangerous place for walking in the U.S., with several Sunshine State cities ranked in the top 20 areas for pedestrian deaths. The...Read More»
It’s a question asked many times by philosophy professors, autonomous car engineers, and even the former hosts of Top Gear: if a self-driving car is barrelling towards a pedestrian in the road and has the option to swerve and put other pedestrians in danger, which alternative should it...Read More»
Some consumers may enjoy the fact electric cars operate in near silence, but Nissan wants to keep pedestrians safe by giving its future electric vehicles a sound. In fact, it's more of a song. Nissan revealed "Canto," the official sound (song?) of future Nissan electric cars at the 2017 Tokyo Motor...Read More»
Pedestrians are in trouble. Between 2015 and 2016, the U.S. saw an 11 percent uptick in pedestrian deaths, and there's no sign that the trend is changing course. What's an automaker to do? If you're Ford, you design cars to do a better job of detecting pedestrians. If you're Waymo (which isn't...Read More»
Mobile phones are great, aren't they? Twenty years ago, who could have imagined the joys of getting stuck in a group text with a dozen family members, including three or four retirees who have nothing better to do than send out barrages of LOLs and misused emojis? Who dared to envision the...Read More»
Earlier this year, two reports revealed that the number of auto-related fatalities in America increased sharply in 2016. A new study from the Governors Highway Safety Association suggests that pedestrian deaths may be partly responsible for that uptick. The organization's projections show an 11...Read More»
If you own a mobile phone--especially a smartphone--you may have noticed some changes in yourself the past few years. Maybe you've begun communicating exclusively in emoji. Maybe you've become incapable of interacting with non-touchscreens. But one thing's nearly certain: that mini computer in your...Read More»
Over the past several years, we've spilled a fair amount of virtual ink on the subject of distracted driving and its effect on the nation's traffic fatality rate. What we haven't discussed very often is the subject of distracted walking, which many blame for an uptick in pedestrian fatalities. But...Read More»
As anyone who's watched The Walking Dead can tell you, it's hard out there for a walker. There's construction to avoid, broken sidewalks to navigate, and the biggest obstacle of all, distracted drivers (most of whom don't have cars with pedestrian detection systems or pedestrian-friendly airbags)...Read More»
Most cities have an extensive network of sensors embedded in their streets -- usually at intersections. They're designed to regulate traffic lights: when sensors detect that traffic in a turning lane is particularly heavy, for example, the light will stay green longer. We've all seen this process...Read More»
Automotive fatalities have been on the decline in recent years, hovering near historic lows. However, some types of fatalities, like those of motorcyclists or those due to distracted driving have actually been on the rise. Thankfully, one of those types has begun to drop again. According to the...Read More»
Last week, Prius owners sued Toyota over its pricey pre-collision safety system -- a system dubbed such a complete flop that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety won't even bother rating it. Coincidentally, Toyota also made two announcements last week intended to rebuild its reputation for...Read More»
Every few days, it seems as if another automaker announces a high-tech means to eliminate traffic accidents in the coming years. Recently we've seen two promising candidates. Last week, Nissan vowed to bring autonomous vehicles to showrooms by the year 2020. That's exciting, but autonomous cars...Read More»
In 2011, the U.S. reached another record-low auto fatality rate, but the drop in deaths hasn't been even across the board. In 2010, for example, pedestrian fatalities actually ticked up 1%, and in 2011, the rate jumped 3%. Perhaps more troubling -- especially if you're a guy -- is a new study...Read More»
When we think of traffic fatalities, we often think of drunk drivers or those not wearing seatbelts. But many people killed in such situations are pedestrians, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just issued some sobering data that shows pedestrian deaths are on the rise...Read More»
Pedestrian-detection is nothing new -- automakers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have been developing such safety systems for years. So what makes General Motors' new pedestrian technology interesting? For starters, it works via your smartphone. GM's pedestrian-detection system is based on Wi-Fi...Read More»
Progress in technological advancements, easy and instant access to information and entertainment, and a host of other new and better items to make everyone’s life more convenient on-demand: It's all good, right? Who really longs for the good old days anymore—the days when kids played...Read More»
The Volvo V40 that just debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show won't be coming to America, but one of its technology components might make the trip. The snazzy five-door hatch will arrive in Europe with a special airbag just for pedestrians. Perhaps more than any other automaker, Volvo has worked to...Read More»
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