Coventry City Council has partnered with the West Midlands Combined Authority to bring a new artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the city, detecting near misses between drivers and pedestrians.
It’s part of a region-wide pilot scheme to improve safety and save lives with Grange Road in Longford being one of 40 existing sensors across the West Midlands that has been upgraded with the Smart Road Safety and Near Miss technology.
VivaCity’s AI-powered vision sensors detect and record near misses, such as when a vehicle passes within inches of a slower-moving pedestrian or cyclist. By using object speed and path data to estimate collision risks between road users it means potential collision hot spots can be identified before someone is hurt.
The technology has been impactful in guiding Coventry’s road safety work so far, influencing work to install a pedestrian refuge on Grange Road, following several near misses being recorded by the AI technology.
Until now, highway planners have had to use data from collisions that have already happened when deciding where to install safe crossings or speed reduction measures.
The analysis provided by the award-winning technology is being used by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and VivaCity to determine where safety measures are needed across the region.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many. That’s why I’m committed to Vision Zero – no more deaths on our roads.
“We need to use every tool available to make journeys safer for everyone in the West Midlands. This new AI technology is helping us prevent collisions before they happen, protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. And Coventry is leading the way as the first place to roll out measures that have been guided by high-tech AI.”
Cllr Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “I’m pleased that we could partner with the combined authority and VivaCity on this road safety initiative. Anything that helps us prevent accidents or reduce their severity is welcomed by me. And as a result of this new clever technology and some cash from Transport for West Midlands, we will be narrowing the junction at Grange Road and adding a refuge in the middle so pedestrians can cross in two parts.
“Of course, we still need a focus on dealing with areas where accidents have happened – but this new technology will be really helpful as part of a co-ordinated approach to improving the safety of all road users in Coventry.”
Latest provisional figures show that while road deaths in the West Midlands have fallen by 12% over the last two years, 43% of all fatalities were pedestrians, highlighting the need for further measures to protect vulnerable road users.
The AI near-miss sensors build on the Regional Road Safety Action Plan’s broader crackdown on dangerous driving, complementing other actions such as additional funding for extra staff to review speed cameras and dashcam footage.