Most drivers and pedestrians are worried about getting into a vehicle collision, according to a recent survey conducted by an auto safety device manufacturer. The Safer Mobility Survey was conducted on behalf of PAVE (Partners for Automated Vehicle Education) and AEye, Inc., a manufacturer of smart technology equipment for vehicles.
More than easing commuting and making transportation more sustainable, over 40% of survey respondents identified improving road and highway safety as the most critical transportation issue. Annual car collision fatalities have reached a 16-year high, with over 42,000 expected in 2021. Pedestrian fatalities increased by 11.5% last year, to over 7,485, and bike fatalities increased by 9% from 2019 to 2020. According to the poll results, the majority of respondents feel that road safety technologies can improve motorist, pedestrian, and bike safety.
Vehicle Collision Smart Technology
The poll included road users such as automobiles, pedestrians, and bikers. According to a survey of 1,095 persons, 78% say technology is extremely or somewhat significant in resolving driving safety issues, and 82% believe technology-driven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in automobiles make them feel safer.
Respondents ranked blind spot monitoring as the most significant ADAS feature, followed by front collision and object detection warnings. Blind spot recognition has helped cut lane change crashes by 14%, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studies.
“We wanted a better understanding of what’s most important and worrisome not only to drivers but to cyclists and pedestrians,” says Matt Bretoi, AEye’s senior director of ITS and smart cities. “The results clearly showed that pedestrians and bicyclists have heightened concerns about crossing streets safely and being struck by a vehicle and that they want their cities and towns to do more to protect them on the road.”
Almost 58% of respondents named improving pedestrian and crossing safety as their top priority, with nearly 50% naming distracted drivers as their top road safety issue – three times more than any other category. Only 13% of those polled thought their city or municipality was doing enough to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Road safety technologies can significantly decrease vehicle collisions and highway fatalities, but these technologies can only help if drivers use them,” said Tara Andringa, executive director of PAVE. “The survey found that people see the safety value of new technologies, which is good news. It’s now our job to educate drivers about these technologies so we can realize their full potential.”
Safety advocates say that intersections can be made safer with smart infrastructure technology, along with ADAS or autonomous vehicle technology. Lidar sensors in vehicles and at crossings provide high-resolution 3D data and recognition, assisting in the identification of pedestrians, objects, and other vehicles in all weather and lighting circumstances.
Lidar helps prevent vehicle collisions by improving traffic flow, watching out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicycles, and ensuring safe vehicle navigation by delivering high-performance detection in demanding safety situations.
Vehicle collisions are ultimately caused by driver error, carelessness, or negligence. If you’ve been injured in a vehicle collision, talk to an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. Call 866-730-3508 for a free consultation. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida.
