Safety first.
Mitsubishi announced Friday that it has developed a directional-indicator system that illuminates the road during the night to better warn pedestrians and other drivers of its vehicles' intentions. The road-illuminating signals will mark intended paths — whether forwards or in reverse, while turning or even while attempting to make emergency stops. It will even light up the road with a warning if someone in the vehicle attempts to open its doors.
Mitsubishi will showcase some of the aforementioned features of the system via its Electric Emirai3 xDAS concept car during the 44th annual Tokyo Motor Show 2015 from October 29 to November 8.
From Mitsubishi's renderings alone, the technology is easy to understand with bright-colored lights paving vehicle's paths — more than enough for other drivers to take warning. The automaker hopes the technology — if it makes its way from concept to its actual line of cars —can help to avoid accidents and decrease clutter on the road between drivers and neighboring pedestrians.
The automaker points out that 70 percent of pedestrian deaths on the road happen during night, according to the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis. Mitsubishi isn't the only auto manufacturer thinking of ways to use light to aid its drivers, especially during the night.
Last week, BMW introduced its Welcome Light Carpet technology for its 7 Series. That technology sees the bottom of the car produce a bright illumination with a simple tap of the key fob, so that a driver is able to spot his or her vehicle in a crowded parking lot at night.
As LED lights become more affordable, more carmakers could utilize them especially for safety reasons in the near future.
