Tyre and vehicle equipment manufacturer Continental has launched a radar system that detects vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians and can be quickly and easily retrofitted to commercial vehicles.

Gilles Mabire, Head of the Commercial Vehicles & Services business unit said, “Increasing the safety of more vulnerable road users is an important social responsibility. Due to the coronavirus, more and more people are forgoing local public transport and getting on their bikes instead. A turn assist system like the one Continental is now offering for retrofitting significantly increases safety by warning the driver of the commercial vehicle as soon as a pedestrian, cyclist or scooter driver is in the blind spot beside the bus or truck.”

The radar sensor system is installed on the rear-view mirror and monitors the area up to four metres to the side of the vehicle and up to 14 metres behind it.

Continental has extensive know-how and many years of expertise in the field of turn assist systems for trucks and passenger cars. The company says work has already started on the third generation of the technology. In the future, a combination of radar and camera data working with artificial intelligence will even recognise the gestures of cyclists and pedestrians, helping to protect the most vulnerable road users even more proactively.

Photo: The turn assist radar system monitors areas to the side and up to 14 metres behind the vehicle.