Technologies such as big data, Internet of Things (IOT), 5G communication and artificial intelligence have granted modern vehicles with advanced functions for instance auto-pilot and blind spot detection. However, individual human being, as the most critical element in a modern traffic system, does not receive any of these benefits. Turning sweep area, or the so-called death crescent, of vehicles and especially of large trucks and buses has caused many deaths of pedestrians at home and abroad. This paper proposes an automatic traffic safety alert system (ATSAS) for pedestrians to be capable of directly seeing the moving trajectory area and the turning sweep area of a large vehicle, thus avoid stepping into the danger zone. Mathematical models to calculate instantaneous moving trajectories and sweeping areas of a vehicle are presented first, followed by derivation of LED beam lamp angle control to project the crescent turning area on the ground. Vehicle kinematic simulations for various situations are conducted to illustrate and study the performance of the proposed system. Promisingly effective results are demonstrated to build a safer and smarter society.
 

pedestrian safety; turning sweep area; vehicle kinematics; vehicle simulation.