Every year, approximately 38,000 people die on the roads of the USA, with a further 4.4 million sustaining injuries that require medical treatment, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel. Although obeying the rules of the road is the most effective way to reduce the number of road accidents that occur every year, constant technological advances are also making the vehicles we drive and the roads we travel along considerably safer. While artificial intelligence (AI) is most commonly associated with healthcare, eCommerce and gaming, it is being used in an increasing number of applications to help keep road users safe.
Human error can be mitigated
Although road accidents can be caused by a myriad of things, human error is by far the most prevalent cause. AI can effectively mitigate the incidence of such human error. Apart from issuing reminders to drivers to adhere to the rules of the road, AI technology can also be used to ensure that a driver maintains a safe following distance and drives in the correct lane. AI-enabled dash cams and night vision cameras can improve your peripheral vision while driving, while also reducing the incidence of distracted driving. Distracted driving, and texting while driving, in particular, is one of the leading causes of car accidents, according legal specialists at FVF Law Firm. By utilizing AI to reduce distracted driving, countless lives may be saved.
Traffic management can be simplified
Traffic congestion does not only result in some road users losing as many as 190 hours of time to commuting a year; it also contributes to a large number of serious road accidents. Over the past few years, several AI technologies have been leveraged to not only measure traffic congestion, but ease it as well. By embedding a variety of sensors and cameras along busy sections of road, large amounts of data can be collected and analyzed. This analyzed data can then be used to relay pertinent information regarding road closures, accident scenes, and congestion to road users.
Public transport also benefits from AI technology
Public transport can also be made considerably safer thanks to AI technology. In October 2020, residents of Tampa Bay in Florida were given the chance to take a trip on a 16-foot long autonomous bus. Although the bus is not 100% autonomous, the risk of human error is decreased drastically. In an event where the bus is unable to make a safe decision on its own, the expertly-trained on-board specialist will be able to override the system and take the necessary actions. This technology will be particularly useful in busy cities such as San Francisco and New York City, where a large portion of the population is reliant on safe public transport.
Adhering to the rules of the road is extremely important. AI integration can also help render the roads of the world increasingly safe for all users.
