Study Shows Pedestrian Detection Equipment Not Fully Trustworthy
Confirming what many safety experts already knew, AAA recently released a report demonstrating that although the capabilities of many new vehicles’ safety features are steadily improving, they cannot be considered reliable just yet. Specifically, the study found that the systems used by many new cars to detect pedestrians are not nearly advanced or skilled enough to accurately work in many situations, so pedestrian accidents in Florida likely will not decrease any time soon. Each of the systems on the four vehicles tested by AAA researchers showed an inability to detect pedestrians in a large number of scenarios. Given the steadily increasing pedestrian death rate in the United States year over year, the study is a disheartening reminder of why safety technology is simply not at a point where it can be trusted to keep pedestrians and others safe all the time. The challenge of keeping pedestrians safe, particularly at night and during inclement weather, is still too difficult for any existing technology to be trusted. Therefore, drivers need to always be alert and on the lookout for pedestrians to avoid any incidents.
The AAA Study and Its Findings
According to a report on the AAA study from consumer safety organization Consumer Reports, the study found that pedestrian detection systems on new vehicles do work some of the time. Nevertheless, the technology is not nearly as advanced as auto manufacturers have often led the public to believe and it struggles to detect pedestrians, particularly at night. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics have found that 75 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur after dark. AAA tested four different passenger sedans: the Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, the Tesla Model 3, and Toyota Camry. All four vehicles were able to detect pedestrians in some common test scenarios like a pedestrian in a crosswalk in the daytime, but they struggled with others. For example, the AAA researchers found that pedestrian detection systems on these four vehicles were “significantly challenged” in several of its simulated test scenarios that used dummies that represented adult and child pedestrians. These included simulated tests involving nighttime driving conditions, other driving conditions with low visibility and when pedestrians are in the road at unexpected times or in unexpected places. The study’s conclusion was that the safety systems are showing promise, but they need further refinement and capabilities before they can be fully trusted to detect and avoid pedestrians on the nation’s road.
Pedestrian Fatalities Increasing Across the Country and in Florida
Almost 6,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2017, up from 4,109 in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Florida consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrians. Speed also plays a major factor in whether a pedestrian accident will involve fatalities or injuries to the pedestrian. In the U.S., the average risk of severe injury to a pedestrian increase from just 10 percent at an impact speed of 17 mph to 90 percent at 48 mph. Figuring out how to slow a vehicle before a crash involving a pedestrian is therefore just as important as avoiding the crash altogether.
Contact the Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A.
Pedestrian accidents in Florida occur with dangerous regularity; the state has consistently been rated the most dangerous in the country for pedestrians. At Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A. our experienced personal injury attorneys have more than 150 years of combined legal practice representing victims of pedestrian accidents and other types of motor vehicle accidents in Florida. If you are a pedestrian who has been injured due to the actions of a Florida motorist, you have the right under Florida law to receive compensation for your injuries, including the payment for any medical treatment you need to undergo as a result of those injuries, compensation for your pain and suffering as a result of those injuries, and other damages. Therefore, if you, a family member, or a loved one have been injured or killed by a motor vehicle while walking on a Florida road, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A today at 877-694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation.