New App Warns Drivers of Kids in the Road

Volkswagen AG is working with Coodriver GmbH to integrate that company’s smartphone child alert system into future vehicle displays.

Coodriver’s “Schutzranzen” (protection satchel) app uses a smartphone or GPS transmitters to track a person’s roadside location. The information is sent to a cloud-based server, which can automatically relay it to nearby vehicles equipped with the technology.

Based on the pedestrian and driver’s relative position and speed, the cloud server calculates the required safety distance between them. If the distance falls below a certain threshold, the system provides an audio and/or visual alert to the vehicle.

The real-time application allows drivers to brake or otherwise respond in time to avoid pedestrians, the partners say, even if a child suddenly runs out from between two parked vehicles in front of an oncoming car.

Parents can download the app for free onto a child’s phone. Coodriver also will provide free GPS transmitters to users upon request.