New model cars could see increased pedestrian safety features
On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Thursday, February 21, 2013.
Pedestrians almost always have the right of way in Illinois. This means that if there is an accident involving a pedestrian, the passenger vehicle driver is likely the at-fault party. This can make it easier for the pedestrian to recover financially, but there is often little that anyone can do to assist the pedestrian in fully physically recovering from a catastrophic injury. Only long hospital stays, surgeries and months of rehabilitation can often affect any change.
Accordingly, some auto manufacturers are looking to do their part by increasing safety measures to better protect pedestrians through prevention. Volvo, a Swedish auto manufacturer with a reputation for being forward thinking in safety engineering, unveiled some remarkable new pedestrian safety features on a 2013 model car.
Beyond sensors and cameras that are designed work in tandem within the vehicle to be able to stop a car if a pedestrian crosses it car’s path and the driver is unaware, there are other safety features that could work to save more pedestrian lives. One of the most astonishing features unveiled was a pedestrian airbag.
The idea is that if the car makes contact with a pedestrian, in under a second this pedestrian airbag would deploy to cover the windshield and engine compartment to prevent more serious injury for the pedestrian. This could work to save lives in the event of a pedestrian accident.
At this time, these models are not available in Illinois or even the rest of the country. However, if these safety improvements are shown to be effective, it could only be a matter of time before such measures become commonplace in all models from all manufacturers. The important thing is that everyone continues to focus on the safety of all on the roadways not just in Champaign, Illinois or even the United States, but around the entire world.
Source: PopSci, “Volvo’s New Exterior Airbags Protect Pedestrians,” Shaunacy Ferro, Feb. 20, 2013
