A method of operating a pedestrian collision avoidance system on a vehicle, the method comprising: 1.1 sensing a surrounding area of the vehicle with a radar sensor and a video camera; 1.2 sending radar information from the radar sensor and video information from the video camera to an electronic control unit; 1.3 detecting an object in the video information with the electronic control unit; 1.4 classifying the object as a pedestrian based on a comparison of the video information with a database; 1.5 determining, with the electronic control unit, a distance between, based on the radar information, an object classified as a pedestrian and the vehicle; 1.6 determining, with the electronic control unit, a characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian based on the video information, the distance, and the database; 1.7 storing the characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian in memory; 1.8 when the object classified as a pedestrian ceases to be detected by the radar sensor, determining, with the electronic control unit, an updated distance to the object classified as a pedestrian based on the video information and the characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian; 1.9 determining, with the electronic control unit, whether a potential for collision between the vehicle and the object classified as a pedestrian is present based in part on the distance to the object classified as a pedestrian; and 1.10 when the potential for collision is present, activating an automatic vehicle response, wherein the automatic vehicle response includes: determining a braking time to apply brakes, with the electronic control unit, based on known braking characteristics of the vehicle and a safety margin; activating a braking system based on the determined braking time; and applying braking to avoid a collision between the object classified as a pedestrian and the vehicle 1.1 sensing a surrounding area of the vehicle with a radar sensor and a video camera; 1.2 sending radar information from the radar sensor and video information from the video camera to an electronic control unit; 1.3 detecting an object in the video information with the electronic control unit; 1.4 classifying the object as a pedestrian based on a comparison of the video information with a database; 1.5 determining, with the electronic control unit, a distance between, based on the radar information, an object classified as a pedestrian and the vehicle; 1.6 determining, with the electronic control unit, a characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian based on the video information, the distance, and the database; 1.7 storing the characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian in memory; 1.8 when the object classified as a pedestrian ceases to be detected by the radar sensor, determining, with the electronic control unit, an updated distance to the object classified as a pedestrian based on the video information and the characteristic of the object classified as a pedestrian; 1.9 determining, with the electronic control unit, whether a potential for collision between the vehicle and the object classified as a pedestrian is present based in part on the distance to the object classified as a pedestrian; and 1.10 when the potential for collision is present, activating an automatic vehicle response, wherein the automatic vehicle response includes: determining a braking time to apply brakes, with the electronic control unit, based on known braking characteristics of the vehicle and a safety margin; activating a braking system based on the determined braking time; and applying braking to avoid a collision between the object classified as a pedestrian and the vehicle determining a braking time to apply brakes, with the electronic control unit, based on known braking characteristics of the vehicle and a safety margin; activating a braking system based on the determined braking time; and applying braking to avoid a collision between the object classified as a pedestrian and the vehicle