While cycling is undoubtedly a great form of exercise, hitting the roads in busy cities isn’t without its risks.
Every year, more than 2,000 cyclists are killed on roads across Europe, with many more injured.
To help make cycling safer, Ford has developed a new light-up jacket, dubbed the ‘Emoji Jacket’, as part of its ‘Share the Road’ campaign.
The prototype jacket has a large LED panel on the back, upon which users can display various emoji and signals, making it much easier to convey their movements on the road.
A small control panel can be attached to the handlebars, with buttons corresponding with six emoji - a left arrow, a right arrow, a hazard sign, a smiley face, a frowning face, or a neutral face.
Depending on what’s happening up ahead, riders can press their desired button, and the emoji will flash up on their back.
Dr Neil Cohn, an emoji expert at Tilburg University, said: “Emojis have become a fundamental part of how we use language. Whether used to convey facial expressions, humour, or sarcasm, they have become integral to our ability to express ourselves and quickly.
“This jacket created in partnership with Ford Share the Road allows riders to express their feelings and creates an important emotional link between them and other road users.”
Unfortunately, the jacket is still a prototype, and it remains unclear when or even if it will become available.
While Ford is best known for its cars, its Share the Road campaign is aimed at making roads safer for everyone, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Ford explained: “Believing that by fostering harmony between road users, raising awareness, and increasing conversations between them, our roads can become a better and more accepting environment for all.”
