"Bryant Walker Smith says the usefulness of this technology is all situational. For example, it's probably not too beneficial if the sticky car hood leaves the pedestrian more exposed to another collision.
"This is the difficulty with any safety improvement. There are some instances where it might be better. There are clearly some instances where it might be worse," Walker Smith tells As it Happens guest host Helen Mann. He's a law professor at the University of South Carolina who specializes in technology — specifically self-driving cars.
The patent describes the adhesive as an "eggshell-like material."
"So, not every bug or stick becomes affixed to the hood," explains Walker Smith. "Only in an abrasive impact would that coating break — revealing the adhesive that ultimately keeps the pedestrian stuck.""
- Date Published:05/19/2016
- Original Publication:CBC Radio