The end of accidents between electric scooters and pedestrians? Probably not, but Lime unveiled its “Lime Vision” system this Wednesday in Paris. This device aims to revolutionize the use of electric scooters in the 200 cities where the free-floating company is located thanks to two major innovations.
After 10 p.m., a reactivity test
The first is advanced sidewalk detection. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the scooter will be able to distinguish in real time, whatever the city and its signage, between a cycle path and a sidewalk. When the computer detects a pedestrian path, the electric vehicle immediately slows down and emits an audible signal. The purpose is to indicate to the driver to return to the cycle path, and to signal to pedestrians the presence of the vehicle.
“We want to offer the safest possible service to our users but also to other users of public space, first and foremost pedestrians,” says Bastien Cransac, director of Lime’s Western Europe region.
Another problem found by the e free-floating company is drunk driving. Many saw in the scooter an alternative to the car when the fateful stage of 0.5 grams was exceeded. Outside the scooter does not eliminate the alcohol ingested. It therefore remains dangerous to drive a vehicle offering so little protection when reflexes are impaired. “Lime Vision” therefore imposes a reactivity test on drivers for any trip after 10 p.m. If the user fails the test, the vehicle cannot be unlocked.