Blind Spot Detection – cyclists and pedestrian Protection

Probably the most important step towards improved, friendlier and safer urban life is learning how to integrate a wide range of different types of transport into such a densely populated area. Cutting down on private cars is key to reducing congestion and pollution but they need to be replaced by something - walking and cycling is the most eco-friendly compensation, but it has to be supplemented by buses for mass transportation. Trucks and lorries for delivery and other services also cannot excluded. But this represents the main traffic conflict for urban planners - city roads are being dominated by both larger vehicles and the most vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists.

A London survey found out that trucks represent only 4% of all vehicles in the city, but are responsible for 50% of cyclists' deaths and 23% of pedestrian deaths. Researchers also found that blind spots of larger vehicles are the main factor contributing to the collision.

Mobileye has invented and introduced a collision avoidance system Mobileye Shield+ for large commercial and communal vehicles. It is specifically designed to help trucks and buses to safely manage their way through the urban environment.

Mobileye Shield + includes the following features:

- headway monitoring and warning to keep drivers at a safe distance from other vehicles,
- a warning to the presence of pedestrians or cyclists ahead of them,
- a warning to the presence of pedestrians or cyclists who are in the blind spot of the vehicle,
- the system is intelligent enough to judge whether to ignore inanimate objects or warn the driver of a dangerous situation where an immediate emergency action is needed,
- creates a database of hot spots on the map, which show which locations are more dangerous and where accidents appear more often.

Improved recognition of the environment and the protection of pedestrians and cyclists from blind spots of vehicles contribute to a smarter urban planning, which consequently leads towards the goal of reduced pollution and zero pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.