Airbags have been a standard component of safety features on automobiles for the past few decades in order to keep all people inside the vehicles safe when the vehicle crashes. However, pedestrians remain at risk of severe injury when they experience a vehicle collision, which occurs far too often. Volvo developed pedestrian airbags to reduce the harm caused by cars hitting a pedestrian in 2013, but soon discontinued it. However, they have announced the return of pedestrian airbags in their vehicles, another way they continue to be the front-runner of car safety.
The Dangers to Pedestrians
With driving becoming a standard form of transportation, automobile companies have focused on developing and implementing the best safety features. They have made the inside of the car safe for all passengers, and are focusing on the next wave of technology to try to predict and prevent crashes. Many of the safety features have led to fewer traffic fatalities; however, the number of pedestrian and cyclists who have died due to vehicle collisions is on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 16 percent of the total traffic fatalities in 2012 were people who were not inside the car. This has led to companies trying to find a way to make cars safer for pedestrian collisions as well.
The Pedestrian Air Bag
In early 2013, Volvo introduced its pedestrian airbags at the Geneva Motor Show on its V40 model. The airbag combined similar technology to an airbag prototype designed to cushion the impact for pedestrians and cyclists by the Dutch company TNO. It worked in tandem with an automatic Pedestrian Detection system, which applies the brakes when a driver does not respond quickly enough when there is a person in front of the car.
How it Works
The system works by featuring radar in the grille that detects how much distance there is between the car and an object. There are also cameras that determine what the object is, including whether it is a person. It also features programming that warns the driver that a pedestrian might step in front of the car. These features allow the car to automatically break if the driver does not stop in time for a pedestrian.
Prior to this activation, there will be seven sensors that can help to determine whether a human leg is coming into contact with the bumper. When it cannot prevent the crash from happening, it will deploy a cushioning system around the car to reduce the risks to the pedestrian. This will cause a u-shaped airbag to deploy, as well as raise the hood of the car and cover part of the windshield. This allows the hood to dent, which will cushion the impact with the pedestrian. This system will be active between 12 to 30 miles per hour, which are the speeds at which most pedestrian accidents occur.
Bringing it Back
Within just a few months of producing the V40 with the pedestrian airbag, Volvo discontinued its use. However, recently Volvo has announced it will once again use the pedestrian airbag. If this revolutionary airbag does take hold, Volvo could once again revolutionize the safety equipment standard on cars. It was the first to introduce the three-point safety belt, and continues to be known for its safety.
Having this type of technology in cars could help to reduce the number of fatalities caused by pedestrian accidents. Being in the accident may still hurt pedestrians; however, it should prevent serious injuries that lead to death. Most importantly, it will reduce the impact to the head, which can lead to serious complications or death.