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Advanced safety features fail to protect pedestrians

As technology continues to play a bigger role in new vehicles today, many features focus on improving safety for drivers and others on the road. Consumers may add things like forward collision warning systems, lane-keeping assistance features and more to their new car, truck or sport utility vehicle purchases.

When it comes to accident prevention, pedestrians seem to face a growing risk despite some new technologies. One AAA study evaluated several vehicles equipped with pedestrian detection systems and automatic braking features to see just how effective they really may be.

Pedestrian collisions occur more often than not

The AAA test evaluated multiple scenarios, none of which returned outstandingly positive results. The best scenario featured a vehicle driving at a mere 20 miles per hour in daylight when an adult pedestrian dummy walked in front of it. In this test scenario, accidents occurred 60% of the time despite the vehicle warning of an impending collision. When two adult dummies walked on the side of a road and a vehicle driving again at 20 miles per hour, accidents occurred in eight out of 10 tests.

When vehicle speeds increased to 30 miles per hour, they failed to reduce their speed by five or more miles per hour prior to an impact with a pedestrian dummy.

SUVs pose great risks to pedestrians

According to a report from The Verge, some experts point to large vehicles as some reasons for the nation’s increased pedestrian fatalities. These larger vehicles may contribute to more severe injuries as impacts may more often occur in the head or torso.