#Car #safety #systems #disastrous #motorcyclists
More and more cars are on the road with different safety systems. This is not only the result of the fact that more and more of these systems are available, but also simply due to the fact that many of these systems step by step become. However, it now appears that many of these systems are too rigid. In other words, standard situations are not necessarily the problem, but deviating from them has dire consequences. Meanwhile, it appears that many of the safety systems of cars are disastrous for motorcyclists.
Passive and active safety systems
It is nothing new that safety systems are becoming increasingly mandatory. Consider, for example, mandatory seat belts, airbags, but also ABS. This development is also taking place in the motorcycle market, with ABS being mandatory from 2015 for motorcycles from 125 cc. That is also why many motorcycle manufacturers come up with: 124 point that many cc. However, blind spot detection systems (the orange light in the mirrors of cars) should also be considered, which should alert the driver that something is in the blind spot. However, these are all passive safety systems. In other words, systems that do not intervene when something threatens to go wrong.
At the other end of the spectrum there are the active safety systems. Consider, for example, steering corrections to keep the car between the lines, or systems that automatically maintain distance. One of these systems is also an emergency braking assistant. This system brakes fully automatically when it deems it necessary. For example, in a traffic jam or in the city. More and more of these active safety systems are also becoming mandatory and this is where the problem starts.
Standard situations
All these systems work more or less the same way. The systems are ‘taught’ how to act in certain situations and will therefore respond when necessary. However, deviating from the norm causes problems. Who doesn’t recognize that Tesla driver who continues to drive stiffly in the middle in a traffic jam, preventing the motorcyclist from passing? Why is this? The Tesla is programmed in such a way that it always looks for the middle of the lane, because this is how it has been learned. This also applies to systems that automatically keep distance. They have been ‘taught’ to follow with a minimum legal distance. If someone intervenes, the system will brake to reach that distance and return to the standard situation.
Motorcyclists not standard
However, many of these systems have not been sufficiently ‘learned’ about motorcyclists. On the one hand, this has to do with the fact that there are simply fewer motorcyclists, but on the other hand, also with the fact that motorcyclists do not always meet the ‘standard situation’. Motorcyclists do not always drive exactly in the middle of the lane or drive between traffic jams or are sometimes simply not observed, too late or incorrectly. So it could happen that there are already three in the United States Motorcyclists have died in exactly the same way due to a collision with a Tesla. The American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also recently conducted a study into the operation of automatic braking systems, in combination with motorcyclists. What turned out? But one car brand scored a passing grade. The rest is well below par. Especially when the motorcyclist was not driving exactly in the middle.
Research necessary
In the meantime, developments are not standing still. For example, a new law has recently been passed that makes it possible to testing self-driving cars, without the driver sitting in the car. It is logical that Dutch legislation keeps up with the times and also offers room to improve these systems. Also within the motorcycle world the developments namely not silent. Traction control and cruise control have been commonplace for a long time. Also adaptive cruise control (keeping your distance) is on the rise. In addition, this also includes the laws and regulations for motorcycles are becoming increasingly strict is becoming. Bosch is now also working on a system for this communication between cars and motorcycles possible to make. Where matters such as speed, position and vehicle type are exchanged. According to Bosch, this system ensures that the motorcyclist becomes more ‘visible’ to the car. Something that the IIHS research also shows is very necessary.
Via: Dagelijksauto.nl
