Nissan Unveils Engine Hood that Protects Pedrestian’s Head in Collision

Nissan Motor Co. can't build cars more cheaply or offer better more efficient running cars…so the company is concentrating on cars that are safer…including safer for the people that inevitably get run into.

A sensor in the front bumper detects when a pedestrian is hit (softer? harder? soft then hard?) and if it (the sensor) judges that a pedestrian has been hit, the hood of the car will raise 10cm (4"). 

A buffer space is created between the hood and the engine components protecting the head of the pedestrian and the parts under

the hood that would lose on impact to a hard headed person who walks out in front of a car or Nissan truck.

Though such a system is used in Europe, it will be a first for Japan.

Nissan wants to halve the number of fatalities involving its cars in 1995 by 2015.

Now, if the company can do safe AND fuel-efficient. 

Meanwhile, if the buffer doesn't work, maybe Nissan can include cameras to film possible hit-and-run incidents.