Bumper Bounces: Ford files patent application for a retractable bumper assembly
Toronto, Ontario — Ford has filed a patent application for a retractable bumper assembly system intended to help vehicles avoid coming into direct contact with pedestrians. The patent—which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 19, 2023, and was published on November 21, 2024—specifically notes that “some vehicles, such […]
Coalition Conditions: Bigger, heavier vehicles contributing to increase in traffic fatalities, EVs now a part of the problem, says The Road to Zero Coalition’s recent report
Toronto, Ontario — The Road to Zero Coalition (RTZ), an initiative of the United States National Safety Council, indicates in a recent report that larger and heavier vehicles, including electric vehicles, are contributing to an increase in traffic fatalities. The RTZ is the United States’ largest traffic safety alliance, to end roadway deaths in the […]
Pedestrian Predicaments: Electric vehicles more likely to hit pedestrians than ICE vehicles, says recent study
Toronto, Ontario — According to a study run by The Guardian, hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) are more likely to strike pedestrians than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, especially in urban areas. This information comes from an analysis of British road traffic accidents in which “data from 32 billion miles of battery-powered car travel and […]
Hand of Ford: OEM files patent for geofence speed restriction system based on pedestrian traffic
Toronto, Ontario — Ford Motor Co. has filed a patent for a geofencing restriction system that could be used in future vehicles. The patent, which was originally published on November 28, aims to improve pedestrian-vehicle safety by automatically slowing vehicles down in areas where the speed limit drops. The system outlined in the patent would […]
Don’t Turn Your Nose Up to Safety: Blunt-nosed vehicles increase risk of pedestrian fatalities, study finds
Arlington, Virginia — New research from the U.S. non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicates that medium height vehicles with a blunt profile are equally as dangerous to pedestrians as taller vehicles. In its new study, the IIHS reports that pedestrian crash deaths in the U.S. have risen 80 percent since 2009, with more […]
Finding Your Dream Cart: Sask. considering expanding use of golf carts on local roads
Regina, Saskatchewan — “Sorry I was late. There was a golf cart blocking up the left lane,” is a phrase some Saskatchewan residents may have to get used to saying now that the province’s Urban Municipalities Association recently passed a resolution considering them for public roadways. The resolution passed last week at the Saskatchewan Urban […]
Eyes to the Future: Subaru to unveil new generation EyeSight tech on 2025 model lineup
Toronto, Ontario — A few weeks after announcing that the technology had surpassed the five million vehicle milestone, Subaru has unveiled that a new generation of EyeSight is on the way, this time with a focus on improving AI performance in poor visibility settings. This new iteration of the prolific ADAS technology is expected to […]
Safer Soundscape: Ford testing 3D audio warning systems
Toronto, Ontario — Are you a fan of a good surround sound system? So is Ford–so much so that the automaker is turning it into a safety system. Dubbed Directional Audio Alerts, Ford’s in-trial safety system warns drivers of nearby passersby and cyclists with different noises–footsteps for pedestrians, bells for cyclists, horn blaring from Toronto […]
Becoming Enlightened: ADB headlights permitted for installation in the U.S.
Washington, D.C. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruled on Tuesday to allow OEMs to install adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights on new vehicles in the U.S. In its ruling, the NHTSA found that ADBs do in fact help prevent pedestrian and bicyclist-related crashes by improving a driver’s low-light visibility. A clear conclusion […]
Walker and Wheel Watch: Volkswagen Front Assist update said to detect pedestrians, cyclists
Toronto, Ontario — Volkswagen is launching a new version of its Front Assist ADAS system designed to help drivers avoid bicycle and pedestrian collisions. According to Volkswagen, prior versions of Front Assist used radar sensors built into the front of a vehicle to detect moving objects that could lead to a collision and could distinguish […]
