During the last decades the automotive sector has demonstrated great results with the help of new technologies for passive and active safety. The car industry is ready to introduce automation levels 3 and 4 vehicles into the market. As of level 3, which is expected to be introduced in the near future, the responsibility for control is transferred, at least temporarily, to the vehicle.
However, in some cases, modern cars do not have robust enough equipment to detect motorcycles. Automated systems in cars that handle lane changes but do not detect motorcyclists can result in serious road accidents. Moreover, motorcycles are not necessarily in the centre of their lane, another challenge for car sensors.
Consequently, vehicles will have to be able to recognize the complex manoeuvres commonly undertaken by motorcycles in ordinary traffic (e.g. lane utilization, lean for cornering, lane splitting and weaving in traffic, etc.) and react accordingly. This ACEM position paper explains why automation must not only improve convenience for car drivers but also safety for all road users.
Documents available to download
ACEM position paper - How will automated cars impact motorcycle safety?
ACEM contact
Dr Veneta Vassileva. ACEM Safety coordinator
+32 22 30 97 32