Ford develops Smart Jacket to improve cyclist safety

Ford has developed clothing which has built-in indicators and flashing brake lights for cyclists. Smart Jacket was developed with urban cycling clothing specialist Lumo and mobility software company Tome, and allows cyclists to better indicate their presence and intentions to other road users. The wearable’s navigation app wirelessly connects to smartphones and vibrates the jacket’s sleeves to help riders take the right direction to avoid busy roads.
June 26, 2018 Read time: 1 min

278 Ford has developed clothing which has built-in indicators and flashing brake lights for cyclists.

Smart Jacket was developed with urban cycling clothing specialist Lumo and mobility software company Tome, and allows cyclists to better indicate their presence and intentions to other road users. The wearable’s navigation app wirelessly connects to smartphones and vibrates the jacket’s sleeves to help riders take the right direction to avoid busy roads.

It features audible interfaces and a system which allows cyclists to use bodily movements to take calls, receive messages and repeat navigation guidance.

The product is part of Ford’s Share The Road campaign, whose stated aim is fostering greater empathy between drivers and cyclists.

Ford is now applying for a patent to develop the prototype further.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • January 30, 2012
    Travel information is heading towards smartphones
    Travel information services are undergoing a step change as rapid increase in sales of smartphones brings ITS technology to consumers' fingertips. A virtuous circle of expanding capability is under way in traffic and travel information services, promising much for drivers and reduction of road congestion. A recent rapid rise in sales of smartphones has boosted numbers of vehicles carrying GPS enabled devices and so brought expansion of traffic data available for analysis and dissemination. Greater numbers o
    Read More
  • March 29, 2023
    GHSA and Ford funding aims to improve road safety for teenagers
    $94,000 in grants will support schemes in Missouri, Montana, New York and Oklahoma
    Read More
  • April 20, 2017
    Increased automation is already improving road safety
    Richard Cuerden considers how many of the technologies developed as part of a move toward autonomous vehicles are already being deployed as ADAS improve road safety. The drive to create autonomous vehicles has caused a re-evaluation of what is needed to safely navigate today’s roads and the development of systems that can replace the driver in many scenarios. However, many manufacturers are not waiting for ‘tomorrow’ and are already incorporating these systems in their new cars as Advanced Driver Assistanc
    Read More
  • January 19, 2023
    ITS green light for two wheels
    Cycling is increasingly promoted as a healthy and sustainable mode of transport. So, ask Ronald Jorna and Robin Kleine of Mobycon, what role should ITS play in stimulating active travel?
    Read More

Highlighted Content