Google has patented a sticky coating for driverless cars that could reduce damage done to pedestrians¹ in the event of a collision. People struck by the vehicle would become glued to its bonnet², rather than being thrown off and further injured.

谷歌已经就在无人驾驶汽车添加粘性涂层获得专利，该涂层能够在撞倒行人情况下减少对其的损伤。被车辆撞击的人将会被粘在引擎盖上，而不是被甩出去，造成进一步的受伤。

One transport safety professor said the concept could reduce injuries sustained in a pedestrian collision. Google did not say whether it intended to implement³ the idea in its driverless vehicles.

一位运输安全教授表示，这个概念可以减少与行人碰撞发生的损伤。不过谷歌方面并没有透露是否计划在无人驾驶汽车上实施这个想法。

"It does have some merit to it," said Andrew Morris, Professor of Human Factors in Transport Safety at Loughborough University. "When pedestrian accidents happen, often the person is thrown up onto the bonnet and there may be injuries from that contact, but sometimes there are not. But when a driver brakes in a collision, a totally natural reaction, the pedestrian is thrown onto the ground and you can get injuries from that contact."

“这确实是有一定道理的，”拉夫堡大学运输安全人为因素的教授安德鲁·莫里斯说道。“当行人事故发生的时候，往往是行人被撞到发动机罩上，这可能导致伤害，但有时也不会。但是，当司机刹车的时候，这是一个完全自然的反应，行人会被撞飞到地上，这就会造成严重的伤害了。”

Google's patent explained that the adhesive⁴ layer would be hidden under a protective coating, to ensure it did not gather debris⁵ during journeys.

谷歌的专利文件解释道，粘合剂层将被隐藏在一个保护层下，以确保它的行程期间不会聚集碎片。

"Upon the initial impact between the colliding object and the vehicle, the coating is broken, exposing the adhesive layer," the patent document said.

专利文件叙述道：“在碰撞物体和车辆之间初始冲击时，涂层将破碎，暴露出粘合剂层。”

Prof Morris said it remained to be seen whether the idea would work in practice. "Whether they could realistically make a car that has the right material in it and works reliably, we can't categorically say that," he told the BBC.

莫里斯教授表示，该想法是否会在实际中运用仍有待观察。他接受BBC采访时表示：“能否切实地在车上涂合适的材料并让其可靠地发挥作用，我们还不能下结论。”

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "As well as developing new technology that prevents pedestrians from being hit in the first place, it's also crucial to develop ways of reducing the severity of injuries suffered if a pedestrian is knocked over. This idea is a fascinating example of just how far vehicle technology is changing. It will obviously need to be developed and tested to ensure that it works reliably and doesn't cause any unintended consequences."

事故预防皇家学会的道路安全负责人凯文·克林顿表示：“除了开发新的技术以防止行人被撞之外，减少被撞倒后的伤害程度也同样重要。这一想法是汽车技术已经发生重大改变的一个有趣例子。显然我们需要开发和测试，以确保其可靠地发挥作用，而不会造成任何意想不到的后果。”