Can Harsh Braking Predict Crashes?
by Joffroy Pirlot
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At the "Innovation Learning Festival 2024," RoadTrace, a division of automotive giant Aisin, unveils how analyzing harsh braking events from connected vehicles can predict and prevent road crashes. By harnessing data from all types of connected vehicles, RoadTrace empowers local authorities to make smarter, safer decisions about road management.
Since 2018, EU regulations have mandated that all new cars be equipped with telematics systems, dramatically increasing the availability of valuable data. RoadTrace goes beyond basic GPS and speed information, tapping into advanced sensors like accelerometers and braking systems to detect harsh braking—a key indicator to identify future potential accidents.
Why focus on harsh braking?
Predictive Power: Clusters of harsh braking events strongly correlate with future crash sites. RoadTrace found that 21% of these harsh braking clusters resulted in real collisions over the following nine months, outperforming traditional KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) data, which showed only a 6% correlation.
Immediate Insights: Fresher data availability allows for better statistical relevance, eliminating delays associated with collision reports and providing more precise positioning.
Data Richness: Millions of data points provide precise, statistically robust information.
Consistency: Harsh braking metrics remain reliable despite changes in road policies or infrastructure.
Road authorities use these insights to enhance urban safety, particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. By identifying harsh braking clusters near crosswalks, bike lanes, and bus stops, they can implement targeted interventions to mitigate risks in high-density areas.
RoadTrace's innovative approach transforms connected vehicle data into actionable insights, paving the way for proactive road safety measures and more effective traffic management.