Iteris and Sumitomo Electric Launch Advanced Pedestrian Safety Solution to Reduce Fatalities in North America

Iteris Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI), a leader in smart mobility infrastructure management, has announced an exclusive agreement with Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) to introduce the Sumitomo Pedestrian Detection sensor to the U.S. market. This collaboration aims to integrate SEI’s advanced radar technology into the Iteris ClearMobility Platform to save pedestrian lives and provide valuable data for mobility management improvements.

The Sumitomo Pedestrian Detection sensor, launched in 2017, uses cutting-edge radar technology to detect pedestrians with high accuracy, reducing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts in various regions of Japan. By incorporating this sensor into the ClearMobility Platform, Iteris will enhance its transportation safety solutions and access more granular pedestrian data, further improving its comprehensive mobility data set.

The sensor operates effectively in all weather and lighting conditions, including total darkness, using 24 GHz millimeter-wave radar technology. Proprietary algorithms enable it to track pedestrians even when they are obscured by other vehicles, covering a wide detection area suitable for various intersection and midblock configurations. The sensor will be integrated into Iteris’ Vantage PedSafe solution, offering real-time analytics through Iteris’s ClearGuide software, which provides insights into pedestrian activity and identifies unsafe areas.

Vantage PedSafe, a key component of Iteris’s detection solutions, is designed to protect vulnerable road users (VRUs) in various conditions, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as intersections, school zones, university campuses, transportation hubs, and entertainment venues. The system uses advanced sensors and analytics to monitor pedestrian movements and optimize traffic signal timings, ensuring safer crossings. It can also activate dynamic street lighting, LED beacons, and message signs to alert drivers of pedestrians, enhancing visibility and awareness.

Additionally, Vantage PedSafe broadcasts safety warnings to connected vehicles and optimizes traffic operations by adjusting signal timing based on real-time pedestrian detection. These features significantly reduce accidents while improving traffic flow, exemplifying Iteris’s commitment to pedestrian safety and modern transportation solutions.

Vision Zero, an initiative aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, is another aspect of this push for enhanced pedestrian safety. Vantage PedSafe addresses higher pedestrian fatality rates in lower-income areas, helping agencies secure safety-related grants by demonstrating effective improvements.

In 2022, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. reached the highest level in 40 years, with 7,508 deaths, 76% of which occurred in dark conditions. The fatality rate was nearly double in lower-income areas, underscoring the critical need for advanced pedestrian detection solutions like those provided by Iteris. If implemented, these solutions could save thousands of lives each year, particularly in lower-income communities.

Iteris continues to monitor, visualize, and optimize mobility infrastructure to ensure road safety, efficient travel, and thriving communities. Various private-sector enterprises and public agencies already rely on its solutions, making it a trusted leader in smart mobility infrastructure management. This latest integration, combined with Iteris’s innovative pedestrian safety technology, promises to create safer environments and reduce traffic fatalities across the U.S.