Technology Might Not Prevent Pedestrian Crashes
Changing technology continues to revolutionize the way we live our lives, and car-safety technology has made huge advancements over the last few decades. The fact is, however that technology can lull motorists into a false sense of security because the by sometimes it’s not as safe as it’s cracked up to be. This is especially true when it comes to car safety features that are meant to help protect pedestrians. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you need an experienced Round Rock personal injury lawyer on your side.
A Recent Pedestrian Safety Study
According to a recent American Automobile Association study (AAA), the pedestrian-safety technology that’s built into many cars is often less effective than car manufacturers and safety regulators claim. AAA put several pedestrian-safety systems to the test, and – in many instances – their findings were surprisingly grim.
The Findings
AAA studied four different car models (each from a different manufacturer) – based on each car’s popularity – to study, and their findings follow:
- After the sun sets, a car’s pedestrian-safety technology can’t see much better than the car’s driver.
- As the size of the pedestrian decreases, the effectiveness of the safety technology also decreases.
- As the speed of the vehicle increases, the effectiveness of the safety technology decreases.
- All of the safety technology tested was ineffective at night.
- 75 percent of pedestrian fatalities in the United States occur at night.
Each of the car manufacturers involved in the study warns drivers about the limitations of the pedestrian-safety technology in their respective owner’s manuals, so drivers should consider themselves forewarned.
Taking a Closer Look
To translate these findings into a real-life application, AAA shared that the safety technology is most effective when an adult pedestrian – in broad daylight – steps in front of a vehicle that is traveling at 20 mph. In such situations, the technology – in all four models, collectively – effectively avoided pedestrian accidents 40 percent of the time and decreased the speed upon impact by 4.4 mph another 35 percent of the time. Nevertheless, the pedestrian dummy used in the study was struck by a vehicle in 60 percent of the tests. As pedestrians, it’s important to remember that despite all the modern pedestrian-safety technology on the market, the danger of pedestrian accidents remains high.
If You’ve Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident, Consult with an Experienced Round Rock Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Pedestrian accidents are among the most dangerous traffic accidents, but for all of technology’s recent advancements, pedestrian-safety technology in cars hasn’t greatly improved pedestrian safety on our roadways. If a motorist leaves you injured in a pedestrian accident, attorney Elissa Henry at Elissa I. Henry Law Firm, PLLC, in Round Rock, Texas, is committed to skillfully advocating for your rights and for the compensation to which you are entitled. We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (512)766-4529 for more information today.
