Ford Peers Into Digital Accident Crystal Ball

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

---

21st August 2020

Ford hopes new connectivity potentials could help its vehicles predict when there could be an accident and then avoid it.

The automaker leads a consortium developing a predictive road safety tool which, using data from connected vehicles and roadside sensors, could help to make travel in towns and cities safer and easier. Its Data-Driven Road Safety Tool claims to analyze information from connected vehicles, smart roadside sensors and local-authority transmissions to predict the likely locations and possible root causes of potential road safety hotspots. This could help cities take pre-emptive action with roads and junctions that pose the highest risks to road users.

Ford Mobility in the UK is partnering with Oxfordshire County Council, AI sensor specialists Vivacity Labs and academics from Loughborough University’s Transport Safety Research Centre, with support from Transport for London. The aim is to develop the tool into a solution that could benefit cities and road users around the world.

Telematics data from a fleet of vehicles, such as brake or accelerator pedal use and steering wheel angle, will be analyzed alongside information from up to 25 additional smart sensors to be provided by Vivacity Labs, a specialist in traffic capture and classification, bringing the total number in use up to 100.

Jon Scott, project lead, City Insights, Ford Mobility, Europe, said: “Soon every new vehicle will be a connected vehicle, and we see this as an opportunity to reduce road traffic incidents and save lives in a significant way. By collaborating with leading innovators, experts and academics – and with the backing of Innovate UK– we truly believe we can help improve mobility for millions around the world.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_