Road accidents have long been a major priority in transportation research because they cost economies a lot of money and do a lot of harm to people. The fact that both the concept and technology of transportation are continuously developing is one factor that makes road safety research an even higher priority at this moment in time. So, this whitepaper would discuss the role of emerging technologies in improving road safety and fleet management.

• Telematics

Telematics refers to the use of GPS, sensors, dashboard cameras, and other tools and technologies to track assets and vehicles. Its origins may be traced back to the 1960s when it was developed as a military technology to track nuclear submarines. Since then, telematics has progressed at a breakneck pace, becoming apparently ubiquitous across fleet management systems. Telematics touches on nearly every element of fleet management, providing your fleet managers with a multitude of use cases. It provides the fleet managers with benefits such as real-time fleet updates, safer fleets on road, reduced fuel costs, better maintenance, and cheaper insurance costs.

• IoT (Internet Of Things)

When it comes to fleet management systems, telematics and the internet of things (IoT) are inextricably linked. It would be a half-measure to address Emerging Technologies in Road Safety & Fleet Management without acknowledging current advances in sensor technology. According to a report, the IoT-powered fleet-management market will be worth $8.28 billion by the end of 2021. According to reports, 11% of units arriving at distribution facilities are damaged. That’s a huge hit to any company’s earnings, and it’s a long-standing problem that fleet managers have tried and failed to address. Sensors connected to the internet of things (IoT) alert managers and owners of any potential package damage. Nothing escapes the sensors, whether it’s abrupt shocks, temperature and humidity fluctuations, or even the brightness around the box.

• Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning

Every driver, vehicle, terminal, route, and even cargo is a possible data set these days. You’ve just read about how telematics can help you discover the most efficient route and save money on gas. And this is only feasible because Big Data, AI, and Machine Learning are always striving to devise lucrative solutions to fleet management’s common pain points. The use of AI, ML, and Big Data has helped a lot of organizations in saving costs on fleet management through better decision making and predicational analysis. One such example could be UPS, the courier services giant. They have made use of these technologies in employing a policy that has saved them anywhere around $300-400 Million in just a short period of time. And the policy is just about minimizing the use of left turns during their trips.

• Augmented Reality

Another emerging technology that will have a significant impact on fleet management & road safety in the future is augmented reality (AR). AR has applications in nearly every area of fleet management, from loading the vehicle to driving it safely on the road. It can assist the organizations in the following primary domains:

• It can help in providing easier maintenance and repair operations by featuring AR-based recognition and simulation over different platforms, helping personnel in getting better information on the subjects.

• It can also help in driver training and assistance by providing environments to train people in different road conditions as well as situations, leading to a better learning environment that is comparatively safer than a practical approach.

• Freight processing and transportation is another domain where AR can help in improving the situation by letting people in the organization know about the status of freight as well as its positions for a better operations chain.

• Blockchain

The potential of blockchain technology may be used to alter and transform the fleet management ecosystem. It might also contribute to faster advancement in the intellectualization and mobility of transportation networks. Further advancements in IoT and IoV will result in a significant rise in data quantities, and blockchain might become a useful tool for decentralised distributed storage and security management in this situation.

• Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous cars have piqued the interest of both ordinary people and fleet management. The advantages of having a computer drive the vehicle are clear, particularly for business fleets. Self-driving cars don’t require extended stops, are safer on the road, and save money. Waymo, which is already well-known for its fleet of self-driving cars, has just begun testing self-driving trucks. Several other firms are making considerable progress toward developing self-driving vehicles. Autonomous vehicles, whether a Tesla Semi or Mercedes-autonomous Benz’s future truck slated to arrive in 2025, are the next big thing in fleet management.

Role of ADAS & DMS in saving lives & ITS for Pedestrians & Bikers’ Safety

The ADAS and DSM System is a system designed for commercial vehicle situations. The device is equipped with forwarding Collision Warning (FCW) and driver tiredness monitoring and is based on deep-learning technology, substantially decreasing accidents and saving lives.

The hardware for the Advanced Driver Assistive System (ADAS) module is installed at the front of the car. The ADAS is a safety system that prevents and mitigates collisions. A smart camera is mounted on the front windshield of the car as part of the system. SmartComm vehicle, lane, traffic sign, and pedestrian detection technologies are used to detect traffic signs, estimate the distance between cars, lane markers, and pedestrians, and provide lifesaving notifications to the driver.

When the ADAS Camera identifies a possible risk, such as a collision with the car in front, a vehicle that is too near to the vehicle in front, or an inadvertent lane departure, the system will voice-alert the driver to take action. The DSM Camera will detect aberrant driving habits such as tiredness, distraction, smoking, talking on the phone, sipping water, and not wearing a seat belt. It will also use face recognition technology to validate the driver’s identification.

Bicyclists can be given precedence through traffic management and the deployment of ITS (Intelligent Transport System) technology. Highways, junctions, and signs are among the measures. Cycling rides may be made more efficient and safe with the aid of traffic management. Information interfaces are increasingly being utilized in road travel to assist cyclists to be more informed and enhance the efficiency of their rides. This may incorporate digital signposts that give real-time traffic information, alternate routes, and potential supplementary means of transportation.

Conclusion

Driving automation and linked transportation networks are only two areas where new technology is likely to have a substantial impact on road safety. These modifications, on the other hand, may introduce new safety concerns that did not exist previously.