Drivers Tend To Kill Pedestrians At Night. Thermal Imaging May Help.::Pedestrian automatic emergency braking (AEB), which may become mandatory on U.S. cars in the future, tends to not perform well in the dark.

  • Phegan@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    What if we reduced the size of cars, reduced speed limits and created cities and towns that are safer to walk in

    • Ookami38@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I mean, long term that’s a fantastic solution. Pretty sure this change can be implemented a lot sooner and a LOT cheaper, and save lives tho.

    • Demdaru@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Funfact! Can’t be bothered to look it up but I remember reading that lower speed limits actually make people more prone to speed. In most cases, if speed limit is low, people will try their best to hit it and even slightly go over it. In higher speed limits people tend to actually drive slower than speed limit dictates.

      This does, however, only apply to express ways and similiar, not city’s limits…I mean, people are still gonna try to max their speed but I really don’t think we can put it high enough for this to not apply and be safe anyway.

      Also, how the hell do americans have this problem when their cities spend 2/3 of the day being locked in slow moving traffic? .-.

      • Nugget@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Adjusting a speed limit is not enough, road engineers need to implement actual traffic calming measures to slow people down…

        Fun fact, US pedestrian deaths went up during covid because there were fewer drivers and people could speed more easily.

        • Demdaru@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          In my country speeding cams work kinda well. People cry af about them but it’s almost funny seeing traffic suddenly slow down in certain points.

    • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It will help with pedestrian accidents but it will also be terrible for driving since you cannot reduce the distance between cities/commute length

      • Phegan@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I’d rather commuting take longer if less people die. But that’s just me.

        • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          That’s the usual sentiment in social media comments but in reality most people don’t behave this way. We need to live in the real world if we want to change it. Living a delusion and expecting others to support it is not going to help in reality.

        • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I mean until recently more people used to die in car accidents than by gunfire. It was the leading cause for kids. I am not advocating for lack of concern. But making cars less useful it’s not a solution since people still have to commute long distances in some countries. You have to weigh the benefits against the costs. If you believe that pedestrians should always be prioritized then you should be advocating for a complete ban on cars

          • GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            If you believe that pedestrians should always be prioritized then you should be advocating for a complete ban on cars

            Welcome aboard, sailor.

            • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Can you even afford a car? I somehow doubt it. you have that typical attitude of wanting to ban the things that are outside your reach.

              • GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml
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                1 year ago

                I could afford buying multiple in cash each year.

                Why would I ever do something so dumb, though?

  • TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    hmm thermal imaging in cars… or just more public transit and street lighting… give me the expensive capitalist hellcreating thing

    • Guest_User@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m all for more public transport but I’m also all for improving safety features for pedestrians. Not sure why anyone would be against putting the cost on car owners.

    • JiveTurkey@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Right. I can’t wait for the thermal camera on my ridiculously expensive car to break so it can become a lawn ornament until I spend thousands on a new camera.

  • cogman@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    As a pedestrian, this is why wearing high viz/lighted clothing at night is so important.

  • rifugee@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Drivers Tend To Kill Pedestrians At Night. Thermal Imaging May Help.

    Thermal imaging will definitely help spot those dirty walkers so I won’t miss as many. Those bastards can blend in sometimes and some of them are deceptively quick. The little ones especially are tough to take out. Of course, sometimes those guys just run right in front of you which are easy points but it takes the sport out of it.

    Anyway, it’s about time someone put the right tools in the hands of us hunters. I can’t wait to have an evening cruise with my lights off and really get a good stalk on, you know?

  • Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    This has been a thing for decades now at least in Mercedes (S & E) and BMW (5+).

    And it’s not just the camera alone, car headlights have a special projector that selectively illuminates pedestrians (or just does a double flash at them). Works as intended, but few people opt for it … and gov are still not mandating it (like automatic breaking).

    • Ookami38@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Dude. For real. The number of jump scares I’ve had on a dark fuckin back road, and some bastard in all black seemingly materializes in front of me… Same thing with people who drove at dusk without lights on, MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE

    • Latuga17@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It is your responsibility as the operator of a car to see pedestrians even if they are wearing black

    • TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      yeah I just murder people based on the color of their clothes. if they didn’t want to be murdered they wouldn’t have dressed like that

      • ichbinjasokreativ@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Fuck you, that is obviously not what I said. You people should really learn how to read, instead of just making shit up and then believing I actually said it.

        • TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I read it just fine, that’s your implication.The pedestrian is responsible for protecting themselves against the tyranny of the SUV. I guess if that’s the world you want then vroom vroom mf

  • pedz@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Anything but slowing down when it’s difficult to see ahead. We’ll just victim blame dead pedestrians, deer and raccoons for wearing dark colors at night.

  • paddirn@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Well yea, more chances of witnesses during the day, so obviously night time is better for… oh wait, we’re talking about accidental deaths?

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Like the case with the paintball guy a few years ago. Someone was driving on a road in the woods at night when he suddenly hit a guy - dressed in dark camo, face blackened, etc, anything not to be seen - who came running out of the woods onto the road. He was a paintballer being persued by members of the opposite team. The car took him out of the game, though.

  • paultimate14@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    ITT: “What was the victim wearing at the time? Was the car acting in self-defense? Do cars have qualified immunity? Did the pedestrian pose a threat or instigate the car? Were they wearing their officially state-sanctioned Pedestrian uniform and helmet? Did the pedestrian have any pre-existing conditions?”

  • Dave@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Cadillac and Mercedes have had thermal cameras on their cars since the early 2000s. There is probably enough data from their vehicles to see if this technology actually helps reduce collisions at night.

  • N3Cr0@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Judging by the heading, most people driving at night must be blind and speeding. Just keeps your eyes open and drive responsibly!