[Quietcars] Volvo avoidance of some pedestrian

[michael townsend]

Bob and Ken,

Mike T here.  I am a car enthusiast rather than a whiner or one to put blame
unnecessarily where it doesn't belong.  

Truly, there have been some fairly righteous violators of safety issues over
the years, like ford ad exploding gas tanks, the secret brake issue with
Toyota, etc., but truly, I see this new generation Prius and the Volvo
attempts as honest, good old fashioned public relations presentations in the
hopes that they are doing something good.   We'll have to see what safety
priorities arise here, and I look forward to some interesting things for
2009 in all ways access related.  



-----Original Message-----
From: quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Robert Wilson
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:03 AM
To: Quiet Cars
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Volvo avoidance of some pedestrian


Hi Ken,

Thanks for the heads up on THE ECONOMIST article. I'll try to hunt it down
over the holidays. In the meanwhile, Toyota has leaked some interesting
video of the 3d generation Prius (3d generation to the USA, 4th in Japan.) 

One section of the video clearly shows a camera lense facing forward in the
gap between the rear view mirror and the top of the windshield. The back of
the rear view mirror has the headlight detector sensor so we're sure this
camera has an unknown purpose. This 3 minute video uses the mime 'Blue Man'
group to investigate the new Prius so there is nothing in print but a lot of
speculation. Regardless, we're expecting to learn more about the next model
Prius at the Detroit Auto Show.

I still plan to attend the Wednesday, January 14, "Industry Day" events and
see what is on the floor. I understand Fisher who spoke at the June 23 NHTSA
hearing will bring one of their hybrids. I'll also visit Lotus, the other
car company that submitted materials for the June 23 record.

One thing I'm expecting to see are a large number of vehicle systems
addressing the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007
(H.R. 1216) signed into law February 2008. Primarily addressing back-over
accidents that crush and kill kids, I'm expecting to find backup cameras and
possibly object detection systems becoming standard in just about all
vehicles. Although, in one of the back-over accidents in the Chidester
report, the rear object detection system had been turned off.

Chat at you later,
Bob Wilson

> Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:11:51 -0800
> From: cclvi at yahoo.com
> To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Volvo avoidance of some pedestrian
> 
> A key phrase in this presentation is, "straying out in front of the 
> vehicle".  Neither time when I was hit by a vehicle I didn't hear, was 
> I out in front" of it.  A very high percentage of pedestrian-vehicle 
> conflicts occur when each is converging on the same place...
> either when a pedestrian like a small child darts out from behind a 
> parked car, or, a jay-walker fails to notice the vehicle, or, as the 
> vehicle is making a turn at an intersection and the driver misjudges 
> the exact behavior of the pedestrian (expecting him to yield slightly 
> by slowing slightly, or, to speed up slightly, due to awareness of the 
> vehicle approaching from beside or behind him.)  A detailed report on 
> the Volvo innovative technology, I think it was in a recent issue of 
> THE ECONOMIST, acknowledged this limitation.  The hope is that a later 
> generation of the radar will be able to 'spot' potential conflictts 
> out toward the sides of the vehicle also.  That is, in my opinion, a 
> daunting assignment, distinguishing among pedestrians with a variety 
> of future intentions, and, inanimate objects near the trajectory of 
> the vehicle.  For example, how will that Volvo know whether that 
> entity at the edge of the crosswalk just ahead is an aware pedestrian, 
> a carefully listening blind pedestrian, or, a lamp post?  Finally, I 
> worry about unintended consequences too... such as drivers becoming 
> too dependent on the technology instead of their own alertness and 
> human judgments.
. . .

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