Cars with the Highest Pedestrian Crash Prevention Ratings
October 23rd, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
A pedestrian detection system is quickly becoming a must-have for car owners. The key reason why this is the case: a pedestrian detection system uses state-of-the-art pedestrian avoidance technologies to prevent car accidents and collisions.
How Does a Pedestrian Detection System Work?
A pedestrian detection system uses sensors, stereoscopic cameras, and other innovative technologies to identify human movements around a car. The system alerts the driver if a pedestrian comes close to a car. Additionally, a pedestrian detection system may automatically apply a car’s brakes if the vehicle approaches a pedestrian.
Pedestrian detection systems won’t necessarily stop car accidents and collisions. However, these systems can help reduce the speed of a car in the event that a pedestrian crosses its path. In doing so, the systems can lower the risk of serious injuries during car accidents and collisions. They can also help reduce the risk of fatal car accidents and collisions.
Pedestrian Protection in Car: How to Use a Pedestrian Detection System
Cars with pedestrian detection leverage advanced technologies to detect subtle human movements. Thus, when driving a vehicle with pedestrian detection, the system instantly alerts the driver any time he or she comes near a pedestrian. At this point, the driver can apply the brakes or try to steer their car away from the pedestrian. Or, there are also pedestrian detection systems that will activate a car’s brakes on their own.
For drivers who own a car that features a pedestrian detection system, it helps to learn as much as possible about it by reading their car’s owner’s manual, which will provide full details about the system and how it works.
Of course, pedestrian avoidance should be a top priority for drivers, regardless of whether their car comes equipped with a pedestrian detection system. When driving a vehicle in areas where pedestrians are present, drivers should:
- Remain attentive
- Scan the road and area in front of them
- Follow the speed limit
Top-Rated Cars with Pedestrian Detection
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested the pedestrian detection system used in several popular cars. IIHS rated the following vehicles as “superior” in terms of their pedestrian avoidance technologies:
- 2019 Audi A4 (standard system)
- 2019-20 BMW 3 Series (standard)
- 2020 Subaru Outback (standard)
- 2019-20 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (optional upgraded system)
- 2019-20 Nissan Maxima (optional for 2019, standard for 2020)
- 2019 Volvo S60 (standard)
IIHS also rated the following cars as “advanced” based on their pedestrian detection system:
- 2019-20 BMW 3 Series (optional upgraded system; IIHS rated the upgraded system as worse than the standard option)
- 2019-20 Honda Accord (standard)
- 2019-20 Lexus ES 350 (standard)
- 2019 Mazda 6 (standard)
- 2019-20 Nissan Altima (optional)
- 2019-20 Tesla Model 3 (standard)
- 2019-20 Toyota Camry (standard)
The bottom line on the aforementioned IIHS’s ratings: many cars are raising the bar for pedestrian protection across the automotive industry. Meanwhile, as automakers search for ways to enhance their cars, they may increasingly incorporate pedestrian detection systems into their vehicles. The result: drivers likely will be able to use a wide range of pedestrian avoidance technologies to minimize the risk of accidents and collisions in the foreseeable future.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Montrose, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the Los Angeles area.
