Data-Driven Road Safety Tool

The "Data Driven Road Safety Tool" project is expected to be a game-changing product as a key enabler towards improving road safety, aligned with such initiatives as the London Mayors "Vision Zero" ambition. Road safety is a major deliverable for every city or local authority, not only in the UK but globally.

By combining vehicle, infrastructure and city data in an innovative and intelligent way, the "Data Driven Road Safety Tool" provides cities and other stakeholders the ability to pro-actively manage road networks, moving away from the reactive methodologies currently in place. Until now such a depth and range of data from vehicles has not been available, nor combined with such a range of other data sources, nor used in such a manner.

The project is focused on establishing the feasibility of this concept, and includes research into the potential marketplace and business opportunity. By developing a collaborative project between a global automotive manufacturer, led by its Smart Mobility experts, city experts, infrastructure sensors experts, and academic experts this project will be innovative and develop a concept that delivers real-world benefits, whilst ensuring a scalable business opportunity exists. This project builds on established relationships and has the potential to create future collaborative opportunities.

The current prediction of increased migration to cities means there will be a growing market for this and other mobility solutions in the future. Part of the scope of this project is to assess these opportunities.

Whilst it is inevitable that's road users will continue to make mistakes, roads and roadsides can be equipped with an infrastructure more forgiving to the vulnerability of the human.This is considered best practice by the UK, WHO, and top performing countries in road safety.

Through grant funding, this project develops key digital skills and capabilities within the UK in a cost-effective way in a rapidly evolving and growing sector. Further, the benefits of such a tool would stretch deep into the UK economy with significant potential savings through avoided road incidents. These will include improved efficiency due to less congestion and time lost, and reduced healthcare costs.

With the global scale of Ford Motor Company such a commercial solution could quickly be scaled and taken to market internationally in collaboration with the consortium partners.