New Technology Will Help City Vehicles Avoid Collisions

New York City will be implementing collision avoidance technology in MTA buses in an effort to further the goals of Vision Zero. The pilot program will allow for 100 city buses to be fitted with the avoidance system which is intended to issue alerts to bus drivers if a pedestrian or other vehicle is in their blind spot. A safety warning, issued from speakers on the outside of the bus, will also notify pedestrians and vehicles if a bus is making a turn. Such collision avoidance technology has proven to be instrumental in several other cities across the nation in reducing or eliminating pedestrian fatalities by city vehicles.

The new program stems from safety concerns to pedestrians and the monetary toll it has taken on the city. Due to pedestrian injury and death caused by city vehicles, the city has had to pay out over $88 million in settlements and judgments for over 1,200 personal injury suits in the last eight years. In 2014 alone, there were 378 injuries resulting from 5,605 collisions.

The technology is expected to reduce overall collisions by 60% and forward collisions by 95%. In addition to MTA buses, lawmakers are pushing to have the devices fitted in all city vehicles that are frequently in accidents with pedestrians, including Department of Sanitation trucks and police cars.

If you have been in an accident with a bus or other city vehicle and have sustained injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can advise you of your legal rights. Call the attorneys at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP at (332) 244-3995 today.