THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN HUNTER SAFETY

Technology already pays a big part of safety in the outdoors. But when it comes to the role technology can play in improving the safety of hunters, particularly technology to prevent target identification errors, it’s helpful to look at other sectors with comparable safety issues, to see what they have done to mitigate risk. A good example is the automobile industry where rapid growth in safety technology has helped mitigate the effects of driver error to prevent accidents and saves lives.

DRIVERS

To get a drivers license a person must pass a test to prove they’re capable of driving safety. Cars are machines have the potential to kill. Drivers are human, meaning they sometimes make mistakes that cause accidents. Most car drivers think they’re safer than average, and no-one thinks they’d cause a crash.

Some of the automobile safety technologies designed to prevent accidents caused by driver error:

• ABS brakes
• Electronic stability control
• Following distance monitoring
• Collision avoidance radar
• Traction control
• Rollover warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Intersection collision warning
• Lane departure warnings
• Fatigue detection
• Pedestrian and cyclist detection.

HUNTERS

To get a hunting permit, most hunters must pass a test to ensure they’re capable of hunting safely. Firearms have the potential to kill people. Hunters are human, meaning they sometimes make mistakes that cause accidents. Most hunters think they’re safer than average and that they would never mistake someone for game.

Firearm safety technologies designed to prevent hunting accidents:

• High-visibility clothing

The only things hunters have to protect against target identification errors is hunter-orange. Now they also have IRIS.

ABOUT THE IRIS SYSTEM