Ford Hopes People Will Download an App to Avoid Being Hit by Their Cars

The 12 months is 2022. Cars have Bluetooth. Phones have Bluetooth. So, logically(?), Ford is asking: Can Bluetooth defend pedestrians, cyclists, and different susceptible, non-car individuals from being struck by its automobiles?

The automaker is creating a telephone app that might alert drivers to the presence of close by bikers, walkers, or scooter-ers utilizing location alerts despatched by way of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) expertise. Or not less than, drivers could be alerted to the presence of these utilizing the app.

People who’ve downloaded the Ford-specific widget, and have it actively working on their telephones would present up as “beacons” to drivers with Ford’s Sync infotainment system. If these app customers are in a automobiles’ path and there’s crash potential, drivers would then be alerted with dashboard display graphics or sounds.

Ford’s scheduled to demo its app for the primary time on the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s World Congress this week. The software could be used to help the corporate’s current superior driver help system, which might already intervene when a driver fails to react to obstacles in time.

“Newer Ford vehicles already with Ford Co-Pilot360 Technology can detect and help warn drivers of pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders and others – and even apply brakes if drivers do not respond in time,” mentioned Jim Buczkowski, a Ford government, in an organization press release. “We are now exploring ways to expand vehicle sensing capability, for areas drivers cannot see, to help people drive even more confidently on roads increasingly shared by others using their two feet or two wheels.”

Car makers are more and more investing in self-driving, autonomous, or driver-assisted applied sciences. But automobiles geared up with these options nonetheless crash, and nonetheless kill individuals.

Ford’s press launch cites the growing number of site visitors, bicycle owner, and pedestrian fatalities because the impetus for the app’s growth. Note: One large contributing issue to the rising variety of deaths is the popularity of SUVs and enormous vans, which Ford sells more of within the U.S. than every other automaker.

However, as a report from Engadget first identified, it’s laborious to think about that one thing like Ford’s app will be capable of resolve the issue of accelerating pedestrian mortality. How many individuals will probably be prepared to obtain yet one more location-tracking app, for a objective that could and should be higher addressed by coverage and infrastructure adjustments?