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Connected Vehicles for Innovative Traffic Safety

In 2023, 232 people lost their lives, and around 15,000 were injured in traffic accidents in Sweden. The aim of the project is to use new technology to develop innovative methods to identify hazardous traffic locations and thereby work proactively to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the roads.

Foto som visar cyklist som cyklar i stadsmiljö bland bilar

Background, Problem, and Current situation

In 2023, 232 people lost their lives, and around 15,000 were injured in traffic accidents in Sweden. Globally, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-29. The analysis of traffic accidents has long been standard practice for identifying hazardous locations on the roads. As measures have been taken to address the most accident-prone areas, recurring accidents in the same locations have become less common, making it harder to pinpoint the underlying causes of accidents. Therefore, finding methods to identify hazardous traffic locations before accidents occur is increasingly important in the pursuit of a vision of zero fatalities and injuries on the roads.

Project Purpose and Goals

The aim of the project is to use new technology to develop innovative methods for identifying potentially hazardous locations within the road network, thereby enabling proactive measures and monitoring the effectiveness of these measures.

Methodology

The project is divided into work packages that build upon the results of the initial steps. The first phase involves mapping the participating municipalities' methods for maintaining and improving traffic safety on the road network, including the collection and analysis of information on traffic accidents and data storage. An analysis will be conducted using data from connected vehicles (TomTom), focusing on observed speeds (average speed and 85th percentile speeds) across the entire road network, which will be compared with the posted speed limits. The goal is to identify road segments with significant deviations, which may indicate elevated accident risks.

The next phase will involve analysing sensor-based data from harsh braking events (collected from Volkswagen Group vehicles and processed by NIRA Dynamics) to understand if there are specific locations in the road network where drivers frequently perform evasive manoeuvres. By combining insights from both data sources and existing traffic accident records, a subsequent site-specific analysis will be conducted using advanced camera equipment from Viscando.

The purpose of this analysis is to gain a deeper understanding of site-specific conditions and how road users navigate these areas to identify the causes of conflicts. The site-specific investigation will be complemented by a joint site visit with the road authority to discuss potential measures to reduce accident risks. The results from the three participating municipalities will be presented in a final project workshop to discuss outcomes, potential method improvements, and how to implement ongoing monitoring.

How Will the Results Be Used?

Lessons learned from the project will be shared at conferences and in publications, and will be integrated into the operations of the respective project partners. This will include further development of Ramboll’s traffic safety tool, Safetywize, a computer-based platform that uses machine learning to predict and provide insights into accident risks within the road network.

This translation is done with support by Chat GPT.

Project time
October 2024-September 2025

Project leader
Erik Hedman
Erik.hedman@ramboll.se

Partners
Ramboll Sweden AB, Nira Dynamics AB, Viscando Systems AB, Stockholms stad, Uppsala kommun, Vallentuna kommun

Vinnova number
2024-02753