Skoda is developing new car-to-pedestrian communication technology, to help people cross the road more safely.
A specially-equipped Enyaq iV model is taking part in an urban mobility project to trial the new tech.
Using an illuminated front grille, the car can signal to pedestrians when it’s safe to cross.
The system replaces the Enyaq iV’s backlit Crystal Face grille with a new body featuring LED strip holders. These programmable LEDs can be controlled separately, making it possible to create unique animations.
When the car approaches a pedestrian crossing, it can warn those waiting to cross in advance that it has spotted them. It then stops and displays green arrows, for example, to tell them it’s safe to cross. Once they have crossed, and the car is about to set off, it can display a different signal to warn pedestrians that the car is moving. In more extreme examples, a car approaching the crossing that is unable to stop can send out a clear signal to pedestrians not to cross.
The symbols currently being tested include green arrows and a green person, plus a warning triangle or a red triangle with a cross – symbols that are widely recognisable.
Changes to the Highway Code in 2022 advises that pedestrians have priority at zebra crossings as part of a wider change with a new hierarchy of road users. Drivers should also now give way to pedestrians crossing, or waiting to cross a road they are driving into or out of. Therefore more vulnerable road users could benefit from the communications between cars and pedestrians at these locations.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
Is that so - 13/04/2023 08:30
Why do they create solutions to non-existent problems? A visual display may work for the sighted - what about those with limited or no vision? Will we end up with a different set of symbols / animations per manufacturer (as is the case with every other piece of technology)? We already have different road signage by country. WHO takes the blame when a driver or the car indicates to a pedestrian it is safe to cross and some impatient idiot whips round the stopped vehicle to hit the person on the crossing? It would be go to hear some basics being resolved such as a common charging lead and common charging (speed/rate) technology.