A brand new technology will be placed in a high-crash intersection in Melbourne, in an attempt to reduce accident rates. Special LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors will be fitted at the intersection between Williamstown and Somerville Roads in Yarraville to monitor and analyze all accidents and near-crashes. The groundbreaking technology will also fit specific commercial vehicles with connected tech so that drivers can be warned (in real time) of potential hazards in this zone.
A High-Risk Area
According to the Minister for Roads, Road Safety, and the Transport Accident Commission, Jaala Pulford, this particular intersection has already been the backdrop for 50 accidents in a five-year period. The drivers and passengers involved in these crashes, she stated, were seriously injured or killed. It is clear that not all roads are alike. Those that can potentially take lives can take first priority when it comes to technology that has the potential to reduce injury, traffic and property damage. Intersections are inherently dangerous, with a third of all deaths and 44% of serious injuries on Victoria’s roads occurring at these spots. Pulford has stated that the statistics are the reason why the government is investing and testing the technology, which hopefully will soon protect drivers in many high-risk areas.
Connecting Vehicles
Not all vehicles are alike, and at no point in history has this been truer than right now, when autonomous cars are already hitting the road. In January this year, the Victorian government awarded German electronics and engineering company, Bosch, a $2.3 million grant to test Melbourne’s first driverless car. MP Jacinta Allan has stated that this trial is specifically focused on rural roads, where drivers are five times more likely to die in an accident than those using urban roads. Melbourne is still at the testing stage and a few years away from automation. However, LiDAR technology and in-car sensors go a long way towards keeping cars connected and drivers informed of potential accidents.
Paying For The Trial
The LiDAR testing will be funded by the $9 million Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program, which has involved many efforts at increasing road safety. In June this year, Lexus trialled a range of connected vehicle technologies on public roads. These cars communicate with each other, providing information that can reduce accident rates. For instance, a connected car receives alerts when vehicles ahead have suddenly braked. This can help drivers take action sooner and boost the smooth flow of traffic.
“Specialised equipment fitted to the vehicles adds to their capabilities by enabling them to relay critical safety information between each other and networks at super-high speed in situations where every millisecond counts,” Lexus Australia said recently. The statement highlights the capabilities of vehicle connection but intimates the much larger role that technology can play in keeping us safe. By analysing dangerous zones and providing drivers with key information, technology can literally ‘save the day’ and help drivers feel more confident on the road.
