A person attempts to create a "pedestrian catcher" device to prevent pedestrians from being injured by large vehicles. They use an old-fashioned invention that resembles an umbrella to catch pedestrians, and they also experiment with attaching airbags to the outside of the vehicle to cushion the impact.
The person tests the device by driving at a mannequin, but it fails miserably, causing significant damage to the vehicle, including puncturing the transmission fluid pan. The vehicle is left inoperable and has to be towed.
Despite the failure of the device, the person reflects on the experiment as a success, as it demonstrated the potential for a pedestrian catcher to completely destroy a large vehicle. They jokingly suggest that if everyone walked around with a mannequin stand, there would be no big cars left on the road, and the world would be a pedestrian utopia.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator is attempting to create a device to prevent pedestrians from being injured by cars.
2. The narrator has purchased an American-style pickup truck, which is larger and heavier than other vehicles.
3. Sales of American-style pickup trucks have increased by 85% in the past year.
4. The narrator notes that these trucks are more likely to injure pedestrians due to their higher grill height.
5. The narrator is attempting to recreate an old-fashioned invention that was designed to protect pedestrians from being injured by cars.
6. The narrator has created a device that resembles an umbrella, which is designed to pop out and catch pedestrians in the event of a collision.
7. The narrator has also created a pressure plate that sets off airbags in the event of a collision.
8. The narrator has tested the device on an abandoned highway, but it failed to work as intended.
9. The narrator's car was damaged during the test, with the transmission fluid pan being punctured.
10. The narrator was forced to abandon the car and walk to find help.
11. The narrator eventually managed to get in touch with a tow truck, which took the car to a mechanic.
12. The narrator notes that the device failed, but it also succeeded in destroying the car, which could potentially lead to a pedestrian utopia if all cars were destroyed.