Back in 2019, an American pedestrian was killed in a traffic accident every 85 minutes. Volkswagen says it takes issue with this. Being producers of cars, that makes sense. VW already takes steps to mitigate accidents in its vehicles. Both the VW ID. 4 and Atlas have pedestrian warning systems and other safety aids to prevent this. Still, VW says it's not enough.

As a result, Volkswagen, along with academic institutions, government agencies, and law enforcement, has formed the Vulnerable Road Users Injury Prevention Alliance (VIPA). Basically, the aim is to stop people from getting hurt in traffic incidents.

The organization, which will stay Michigan-based for now, is built using two databases to help researchers. The first database monitors samples from police-reported incidents involving both pedestrians and cyclists. When possible, that database will also match with injury data from the hospitals these victims are treated at. The second database will provide reconstructions of accidents so that VW and others can learn what happened. That includes vehicle and medical data to help find trends that'll better protect pedestrians.

"Real-world data like this plays a crucial role in determining how policymakers and the industry can better protect pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users," Jason Gainey, Senior Manager of Vehicle Safety and Compliance for VW said. Gainey went on to say the data gives VW insights it can use to better understand how and why these collisions with pedestrians happen.

That data will be used by VW to improve the crash-friendliness of its vehicles. Being hit by a car at 30 mph doesn't sound friendly, but VW hopes the data will at least make it less destructive. More specifically, systems will be developed that could help mitigate any harm caused by a driver acting erratically on the road. VW uses the example of a drunk driver, but distracted drivers also fit the bill. Volkswagen says the data will also be used to create new rules for the road designed to improve pedestrian safety.

As part of Biden's infrastructure bill, the NHTSA must issue a public notice and comment regarding "both crash protection and crash avoidance technologies for future vehicles." Given the scope of this project, we expect to see other automakers join in soon, and the trial be expanded to other states, though a timeline was not provided by Volkswagen or VIPA.