The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has reported a remarkable reduction in accidents involving Aapli Buses, thanks to the implementation of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology.
This significant decrease, amounting to a 41% drop in accidents, highlights the effectiveness of ADAS in enhancing road safety. The ADAS technology, developed under the Project Intelligent Solutions for Road Safety through Technology and Engineering (iRASTE), has proven to be instrumental in reducing road mishaps. According to data collected from January 2023 to August 2023, buses equipped with ADAS experienced a substantial reduction in accidents compared to those without the technology. This underscores the potential of ADAS to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety. Moreover, the iRASTE report submitted to the NMC detailed the impact of ADAS on driver risk. The monthly driver risk scores have shown a significant 30% decrease since the project’s inception. This reduction is attributed to the continuous monitoring and alerts provided by ADAS, which help drivers adopt safer driving practices.
In addition to the ADAS implementation, the iRASTE project has targeted road safety improvements at identified blackspots in Nagpur. The project team proposed geometric design plans for 38 such blackspots, which were submitted to relevant road-owning agencies, including the NMC, Public Works Department, National Highway division, and the World Bank division.
The success of ADAS technology in reducing accidents and mitigating driver risk underscores the importance of leveraging innovative solutions to create safer road environments for all commuters. As part of the Mobility Safety Analysis vector, iRASTE introduced a novel technique to predict Greyspots (potential blackspots) by combining ADAS data with static road parameters. Using this predictive analysis, the team proposed both short and long-term measures for the top 16 greyspots and two of the most unsafe corridors in the city. the project established community-based emergency first responder networks, known as ‘Trystander cells’, at eight blackspot locations. These cells are equipped with essential First Aid resources, including foldable stretchers and first aid kits, enabling local first responder volunteer teams to assist road crash victims. So far, these teams have successfully aided 36 road crash victims in the vicinity of these blackspots.
The success of the ADAS technology in reducing accidents and enhancing road safety in Nagpur serves as a testament to the potential of technological innovations in improving urban transport systems. This initiative by the NMC and iRASTE highlights the critical role of advanced technology in fostering safer road environments and saving lives.
