After a simple and straightforward installation, the next time you reverse out of your driveway, you can do so with no worries whatsoever!
Large paddles, not unlike those in pinball machines, but at rest by the sides of your driveway, will rotate out by the entrance of the driveway, swinging a full 180' to push aside anyone and their dog who may be immediately behind you, to some safe location. This will also protect your car from hoodlums with skateboards, while you slowly inch backward into the street to merge in some way with the traffic, before heading to work.
These are powered via a simple system, driven by the weight of your car over a slightly raised metal plate. As the plate pushes to the ground, a high ratio geared system swings the paddles outwards behind you.
This may fling tricycles, gardening equipment, or your own children into the road but at least there is a second chance here, that they can be detected by people who are more alert.
They can also be used as a simple gate when you are away, to give the burglars something to jump over.-- mylodon, May 04 2023 There are available weight-driven gates that swing up, & ones that slide sideways, but I can't (quickly) find any that swing sideways. Mostly because (I suspect) it makes it a "one way" system. I'm not sure the small vertical travel of the vehicle (despite the large weight) will translate to enough force on the "sweepers" to move large things out of the way, but I like the idea.-- neutrinos_shadow, May 04 2023 I suppose upon returning to the fold one could use a remote control, opening the paddles to admit the vehicle. Doubtful that any obstructions would be deflected upon the return trip, they having already been crushed beneath the vehicle.
Would the opening speed be adjustable?-- whatrock, May 04 2023 //push aside anyone and their dog who may be immediately behind you, to some safe location// I thought this is why bumpers were fitted to cars in the first place?-- pocmloc, May 05 2023 random, halfbakery