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High-tech crosswalk is designed to save pedestrians

Ben Coxworth February 27, 2019

Thanks to things like smartphones and automotive infotainment systems, both pedestrians and drivers are probably now less aware of one another than ever before. An experimental new crosswalk could help keep accidents from happening, however, through lights, electronic signs, and an app.

The crosswalk features warning LEDs embedded in the road

Science

Marijuana legalization sees temporary rise in traffic fatalities in some US states

Rich Haridy February 6, 2019

A new study has collected seven years of data from Colorado, Washington, and Oregon – three of the earliest US states to legalize marijuana – in order to offer a clearer insight into whether traffic fatalities increased after marijuana legalization.

A new study reveals that traffic deaths may have slightly increased after marijuana legalization, but they ...

Automotive

Crash-test dummies get older and fatter, just like people

Lisa-Ann Lee January 26, 2017

With obesity rates rising and boomers getting older, a Michigan-based trauma surgeon and crash-test-dummy maker are hoping to bring car safety up to date with models that represent today’s older and overweight drivers.

Crash test dummies are evolving to reflect a heavier and older boomer generation

Automotive

Researchers develop a heart monitor for your driver’s seat

Aaron Turpen November 5, 2015

A group of scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) have developed an electrocardiogram (ECG) that operates from within a car’s driver’s seat.

The IPMS heart rate monitoring seat could reduce traffic accidents when paired with autonomous emergency stopping ...

Space

Human error and inadequate training blamed for SpaceShipTwo crash

David Szondy July 28, 2015

The NTSB released the conclusions of its accident investigation of the crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo saying that the accident was due to an error by the co-pilot, who prematurely released the spacecraft's feather system, placing too much stress on the fuselage and causing it to break up.

The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has blamed pilot error stemming from inadequate training ...

Automotive

Samsung creates "transparent" truck

Colin Jeffrey June 22, 2015

Samsung has created a prototype camera and monitor system that allows drivers traveling behind large trucks to see the road ahead and be able to safely pass without having to risk swaying into oncoming traffic.

Samsung's prototype "Safety Truck" offers view of the road ahead

Automotive

Brain4Cars system could spot driver errors before they happen

Ben Coxworth April 15, 2015

We keep hearing about systems designed to let drivers know when they've made mistakes. Brain4Cars, however, takes yet another approach. It monitors drivers to determine when they're <em>about</em> to do something wrong, so it can warn them not to.

The Brain4Cars system analyzes drivers' head movements to determine what they're planning to do

Good Thinking

Bosch Reaxx table saw saves fingers and blades

David Szondy March 24, 2015

Table saws can make working with wood a breeze. They can also take fingers off the unwary in the blink of an eye. Bosch's Reaxx table saw can tell the difference between a piece of wood and a finger, and drop the blade out of the way to prevent a messy accident.

The Bosch Reaxx can prevent finger accidents without ruinng the saw blade

Good Thinking

CriticaLink provides emergency care when 911 isn't an option

Stu Robarts February 23, 2015

Many of us take for granted that, should we have an accident, the emergency services will be able to help. In some places that's not possible though. CriticaLink, being trialed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, seeks to provide volunteer emergency assistance when it might not be otherwise possible.

CriticaLink seeks to provide emergency care to people injured in accidents, using trained volunteers

Children

buckle me up lets parents know if kids undo their seatbelts

Ben Coxworth February 19, 2015

Many cars don't have rear seatbelt warning systems, so parents may not realize that their children have released their belt while en route. buckle me up wirelessly adds a rear seatbelt warning system to such vehicles.

The buckle me up dash module flashes and beeps if children unbuckle while the parent is ...