Using AI to prevent 2-wheeler accidents? Govt looking at safety features, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The government is planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce fatalities among two-wheeler riders, who account for approximately 45% of total road accident deaths.
• In 2024, 1.77 lakh people died in road accidents, with 54,493 deaths attributed to not wearing a helmet.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is collaborating with IIT Madras’ Centre of Excellence for Road Safety on initiatives like the Sadak Suraksha Mitra Programme.

Detailed Insights:

• The government acknowledges the automobile industry's car-centric approach, overlooking the safety needs of two-wheeler riders who are highly vulnerable in accidents due to lack of structural protection.
• MoRTH aims to involve industry experts and the public to develop effective safety measures for two-wheelers, addressing issues like head injuries from low-speed collisions.
• The Sadak Suraksha Mitra Programme is being implemented in 100 high-risk districts to promote road safety awareness and gather insights from Gen Z on future road safety challenges.
• Data indicates that in 2023, 77,539 people died in accidents involving two-wheelers, and a significant number of fatalities were due to not wearing helmets (74,568 in 2023 and 50,029 in 2022).

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems.
• Road Safety Audit: A formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or street.
• Fatality: An occurrence of death by accident.