Can technology prevent pedestrian deaths caused by car accidents?

Question

For example, a smartwatch could inform you not to cross the street if there is imminent danger from an oncoming car, regardless of what the traffic lights indicate.It could gather this information from its own sensors, as well as from sensors in nearby wearable or mobile devices carried by others.

pavel_lishin · Accepted Answer

Maybe it could also prompt you to use the sensors built into your head as well?Honestly, if we're having a watch scream at anyone, I'd rather it be the drivers who are (a) unaware of the law about pedestrian crossings, (b) looking at their phone while driving, (c) driving like an asshole, (d) driving drunk.

SunlitCat · Answer

As long as there is some bit of human factor in the play, I would say no.In a "perfect" world where everything and everyone is connected, sure. But consider what kind of world that would be.

benoau · Answer

It can or at least will: a driverless car that always stop, never speeds and never cheats will force everyone behind them to adhere to the rules they follow.

dave4420 · Answer

I was hoping you were going to say &ldquo;for example, the car could avoid driving into the pedestrian&rdquo;.

fuzzfactor · Answer

Maybe pedestrians need to step up to the plate more and step away from traffic better simply because they have more "skin in the game".For modern technology to be the most useful it may be something that would be just as effective if the traffic still consisted of horses & buggys or Model T's.

Can technology prevent pedestrian deaths caused by car accidents?

For example, a smartwatch could inform you not to cross the street if there is imminent danger from an oncoming car, regardless of what the traffic lights indicate.
It could gather this information from its own sensors, as well as from sensors in nearby wearable or mobile devices carried by others.

As long as there is some bit of human factor in the play, I would say no.
In a "perfect" world where everything and everyone is connected, sure. But consider what kind of world that would be.

It can or at least will: a driverless car that always stop, never speeds and never cheats will force everyone behind them to adhere to the rules they follow.

I was hoping you were going to say “for example, the car could avoid driving into the pedestrian”.

Maybe pedestrians need to step up to the plate more and step away from traffic better simply because they have more "skin in the game".
For modern technology to be the most useful it may be something that would be just as effective if the traffic still consisted of horses & buggys or Model T's.