High-visibility clothing, commonly worn by pedestrians and cyclists for safety, may not be as effective as intended when it comes to modern car technology, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States, highlights a potential "blind spot" in automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, which are standard in all new vehicles.
These AEB systems are designed to detect potential collisions and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not react in time. However, the study found that these systems may struggle to recognize reflective materials, such as those found in high-visibility vests and jackets. This raises concerns about the safety of vulnerable road users who rely on these garments to enhance their visibility.
In the trials, researchers used a crash test dummy outfitted with reflective strips and conducted tests with three different vehicles—Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru Forester—traveling at 25 miles per hour. The results were alarming: both the Honda and Mazda struck the dummy while it was wearing reflective gear. The Honda also failed to slow down when the dummy donned a high-visibility jacket. In contrast, the Subaru demonstrated better performance, slowing down in all tests except when the dummy wore reflective strips in very low light conditions.
David Harkey, president of IIHS, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating that it is unacceptable for safety clothing to inadvertently hinder recognition by crash avoidance technology. He called for car manufacturers to revisit and refine their AEB systems to better accommodate the presence of reflective clothing worn by pedestrians, cyclists, and roadway workers.
Mazda responded to the findings, asserting that road safety is a priority and that their engineers are actively working to enhance crash avoidance systems, particularly in scenarios involving nighttime pedestrians. Honda and Subaru were also approached for comments regarding the study.
The implications of this research are significant, as it suggests that while high-visibility clothing is intended to enhance safety, it may inadvertently create new risks for those who wear it. As the automotive industry continues to innovate, ensuring that safety technologies effectively recognize and respond to all road users remains a critical challenge.