Young and novice drivers are being encouraged to make use of smart technology which can warn motorists as they enter higher risk areas.
Developed by technology firm Predina, the ‘smart SATNAV’ is able to forecast where and when a crash is likely to happen, ‘dynamically and in real time’.
The system, which learns from historical crashes, assesses a ‘complex mix’ of external factors – such as road layout, weather, time of day, bank holidays and even the cost of fuel.
Consumer testing of the system suggests it is useful for choosing a safe route to school, holiday driving, or the daily commute when a choice of routes is available.
Predina is currently turning the system into an app, designed to help drivers plan their journey to minimise entering crash ‘hot-spots’.
Bola Adegbulu, co-founder of Predina, said: “According to researchers, the risk on one route can increase by as much as 146% depending on weather, time of day, day of week, time of year, traffic flow and many factors.
“On the road towards reducing the risk of crashes, there are plenty of tech solutions focused on the vehicle and telematics based systems focused on the driver.
“But these external factors have remained a blind spot – until now.”
Supposing the driver themselves are so careless and/or reckless that they are effectively creating their own ‘accident hot-spots, whichever route they take. Collisions can happen anywhere – not necessarily where they have happened before.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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