Near misses between drivers and pedestrians are being detected
using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part
of a region wide pilot scheme to improve safety and save lives.
VivaCity's AI-powered vision
sensors detect and record near misses, such as when a vehicle
passes within inches of a slower moving pedestrian or cyclist, so
that potential collision hot spots can be identified before
someone is actually hurt.
A total of 40 existing sensors across the region have been
upgraded with the Smart Road Safety and Near Miss technology,
which uses object speed and path data to estimate collision risks
between road users.
The analysis provided by the award-winning technology is being
used by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and VivaCity to
determine where safety measures are needed.
Until now, highway planners have had to use data from collisions
that have already happened when deciding where to install safe
crossings or speed reduction measures.
, Mayor of the West
Midlands, said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many.
That's why I'm committed to Vision Zero – no more deaths on our
roads.
“We need to use every tool available to make journeys safer for
everyone in the West Midlands. This new AI technology is
helping us prevent collisions before they happen, protecting
pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. And Coventry is leading the
way as the first place to roll out measures that have been guided
by high-tech AI.
“But our work doesn't stop there. That's why I appointed the UK's
first dedicated road safety commissioner – Mat MacDonald - to
make sure the voices of communities are heard and to drive action
that will prevent more tragedies on our roads.”
Latest provisional figures show that while road deaths in the
West Midlands have fallen by 12% over the last two years, 43% of
all fatalities were pedestrians, highlighting the need for
further measures to protect vulnerable road users.
Mat MacDonald, the region's Road Safety Commissioner, said:
“These exciting new technologies will allow us to build a clearer
picture of where life and limb is most at risk on or road
network, facilitating effective and targeted interventions before
it becomes too late for yet another family in our region.
“Instead of waiting for tragedy to unfold we will be able to
allocate resources in a way that reduces the chance of a
collision occurring in the first place.
“Acting pre-emptively at danger hotspots to tackle speeds, reduce
the volume of traffic and improve physical protections for the
most vulnerable road users will without doubt reduce deaths and
serious injuries in collisions, which must be our overarching
focus.”
The AI near-miss sensors build on the Regional Road Safety Action
Plan's broader crackdown on dangerous driving, complementing
other actions such as additional funding for extra staff to
review speed cameras and dashcam footage.
One local highway authority using the analysis to guide its road
safety work is Coventry City Council. It is set to install a
pedestrian refuge on Grange Road in Coventry after several near
misses were recorded by the AI technology.
Cllr Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services, said:
“I'm pleased that we could partner with the combined authority
and VivaCity on this road safety initiative. Anything that helps
us prevent accidents or reduce their severity is welcomed by me.
And as a result of this new clever technology and some cash from
Transport for West Midlands, we will be narrowing the junction at
Grange Road and adding a refuge in the middle so pedestrians can
cross in two parts.
“Of course, we still need a focus on dealing with areas where
accidents have happened – but this new technology will be really
helpful as part of a co-ordinated approach to improving the
safety of all road users in Coventry.”
Mark Nicholson, VivaCity's CEO, said: “We're proud to be a part
of this award-winning collaboration with WMCA and TfWM. The
deployment of our advanced near miss technology is redefining how
authorities can proactively monitor road safety, identifying
potential incidents before they escalate.
“What's particularly significant is that TfWM is already acting
on these early insights, with infrastructure improvements and
behaviour-change initiatives in progress. This proactive approach
is setting a new standard for road safety, paving the way for
safer, smarter streets across the entire region.”
The project has already won the DfT's Special Recognition Award
in the ‘Best Use of Technology in the Highways and Transportation
Sector' category last October, as well as in the 'Better Safety
Through Technology' and overall 'Best Project of the Year'
categories at the ITS UK Awards 2024. It has also been nominated
for the prestigious 'International Road Safety Invention &
Innovation Competition,' which will be held in Morocco, later
this month.
Only last month the UK government launched an AI action plan to
ramp up the adoption of the technology across the UK to boost
economic growth, provide jobs for the future and improve people's
everyday lives.
