Student inspired to design traffic detection device for horse riders following accident

A Loughborough University student hopes the traffic detection device they have designed for horse riders will help reduce the number of accidents on the road.

Zoe Bryant’s ‘Lume’ retrofits to existing English saddles and uses radar technology to detect approaching vehicles from up to 60m away.

The product she has designed alerts riders and road users of each other’s presence using an illuminative rear panel and a rubberised wristband.

Upon detection of a vehicle, Lume’s rear panel flashes red to alert the road user of the horse rider ahead and the wristband on the rider vibrates; making them aware a vehicle is approaching and giving them time to move to one side.

Pictured is Zoe Bryant’s ‘Lume’.

Zoe Bryant’s ‘Lume’.

The inspiration for the project came after the Product Design and Technology student was involved in an accident whilst out riding.

Zoe said: “About 10 years ago I had quite a bad accident on the road; a car came up from behind and spooked the horse I was riding, causing it to fall over and crush my knee underneath.

“I decided that I’d quite like to prevent this kind of accident from happening again.

“Currently there are no traffic detection devices for horse riders on the market and there’s quite limited road safety gear anyway apart from hi-vis.

“The idea was to create something that looks a bit more high class, a bit more expensive, which people will like to have on their saddle that will also increase their safety by a considerable amount.”

Zoe will be showcasing Lume at New Designers in London from 4-7 July, alongside 13 fellow students from Loughborough Design School

Other student designs that are to be exhibited include a unique game controller designed for rehabilitation as well as entertainment purposes and a fun, friendly ride-on IV stand that looks to reduce children’s anxiety in hospital. More information can be found on the University's dedicated New Designers webpage.

Notes for editors

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Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2018 QS World University Rankings, top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey and named University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2019, 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2019. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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