Every day motorcyclists die for not wearing a helmet. In Argentina they have decided to cut their losses, with the awareness-raising traffic lights.
Honda Safety has introduced a traffic light with facial recognition that does not turn green, if it detects that a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet. Public humiliation is undoubtedly more effective than a possible fine.
As you can see in the news opening video, the Honda-designed traffic light has a facial recognition camera that scans all motorists who stop at the traffic light.
If it detects that a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet, it shows their bare head on a giant screenso that other drivers can see it.
The awareness traffic light
At the same time, a message appears on the screen: “Put your helmet on or the traffic light will remain red.”
Faced with the shame of other drivers booing or getting angry, because the traffic light does not turn greenmotorcyclists quickly put on their helmet if they carry it on their arm, or get off the motorcycle.
It seems like a good idea, but we don’t know if this is just a promotional campaign by Honda that has only worked in the test phase, or if the Argentine municipalities really plan to install this technology.
The reality is that the figures are devastating. In Argentina, 44% of the victims of traffic accidents are young people on motorcycles. 40% of these victims were not wearing a helmet.
In our country the figures are lower, but it is a problem that is reproduced in a similar way throughout the world. According to the insurer Hello Safe, Until June 2023, 86 motorcyclists have died in Spain, 12% more than the previous year.
Nobody likes facial recognition systems if they are used to spy or gather information. But this awareness traffic light, where its function is to notify those who are not wearing their helmetscan be beneficial, and very effective.