Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing serious injury or vehicle damage resulting from collisions between automotive vehicles and people, animals, or other objects are described. In some instances, the system may comprise an object detection system configured to detect a human prior to impact with an automotive vehicle comprising the object detection system, and further configured to send a first activation signal upon detection of the human; a first actuator attached to the automotive vehicle; and a protection plate operatively connected to the first actuator and mounted on a structural component of the automotive vehicle; where upon receipt of the first activation signal by the first actuator, the protection plate is deployed from a non-vertical orientation into a vertical orientation and is vertically-positioned between a level of a front bumper of the automotive vehicle and a surface on which the automotive vehicle is traveling.