How to avoid Accidents? Mercedes wants to identify accident black spots in the city before it crashes.
Mercedes is doing accident research in London in collaboration with the traffic authorities "Transport for London" how data generated by vehicles help avoid accidents with other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
Mercedes has developed a digital tool for this purpose that uses individual messages from driver assistance systems. The aim of the system known as the “Road Safety Dashboard” is to draw attention to dangers before accidents occur. If the brake assistants repeatedly intervene at an intersection, for example, this can indicate a confusing design of the road section. Based on the individual reports at the same GPS position, potential accident black spots are automatically identified and analyzed using a special algorithm. Based on this database, the London city planners receive information on accident risk areas displayed on a road map.
Very detailed monitoring for accident research
This anonymized vehicle data is linked to other data. This includes location information such as traffic lights or zebra crossings or information on accidents that have already occurred. The density of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians is also communicated, just like the surroundings of schools and kindergartens are examined particularly closely. Statements about the volume of traffic and the condition of the road could also be passed on.
Mercedes plans to work with other cities in addition to London to improve road safety.