Engineering Safer Drivers

How are the automotive industry, the scientific community and the public sector working together to make us safer drivers? A panel of professionals will discuss the issue in light of these developments: Technology now can sense a potential collision and enable a vehicle to take corrective braking and steering action automatically. Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communications will soon change how traffic flows, to reduce bottlenecks and improve safety and fuel efficiency. Self-guiding autonomous vehicles are on the horizon. As a result, drivers are becoming less attentive than ever—while on-board infotainment provides more distractions. At the same time, the driving population is aging as Baby Boomers retire and Millennials put off driving altogether. How will we adapt to these new safety and interface technologies, and the cognitive demands associated with them? What will be the impact on car prices? On safety and insurance regulations?

11:30 AM Registration
12:30 PM Ford lunch with Pete Reyes
1:30 Moderator’s Introduction
1:45 Opening Remarks by Panelists
3:00 Questions for the Panel
4:00 Closing Remarks by the Moderator
4:10 - 5:15 Reception & Networking

(NEMPA's annual awards banquet begins at 6:00 PM, also in the MIT Media Lab.)

MIT Media Lab
75 Amherst St
Cambridge, MA 02139

Attendance is open to accredited members of the media, members of the auto industry, and university students and faculty. Admission includes lunch before and a reception afterward.