10:10 20-11-2025

Ford's deployable front module aims to cut pedestrian injuries

Ford Motor has filed a patent for an innovative system intended to protect pedestrians from the worst consequences of road crashes. The proposal introduces a dedicated extendable module in the vehicle’s front end, engineered to soften the impact when a car strikes a person.

The standout feature is its ability to deploy automatically just moments before a collision. By increasing the contact area between the vehicle and the human body, the design aims to lower the risk of serious lower-limb injuries, including fractures and joint damage.

This approach is especially relevant for high-riding models—crossovers, SUVs, and pickups—whose tall bumpers pose a particular hazard to people on foot. With these vehicles, the initial hit often lands on the legs, which is where the most severe harm tends to occur.

If adopted, such hardware could meaningfully improve road safety by reducing the severity of pedestrian injuries in emergency situations. A deployable front section that meets a person with a broader contact surface looks like a practical next step, particularly for vehicles that dominate traffic by sheer height and mass.