West Midlands AI technology wins major global award for road safety innovation

A pioneering road safety project in the West Midlands that harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has earned global recognition for its role in improving road safety.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), in partnership with VivaCity, has received the Most Promising Project Award at the International Invention and Innovation Competition for their innovative ‘Near Miss’ detection system.

The award was presented at the 4th Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference in Marrakesh, organised by the World Health Organisation and Morocco’s National Road Safety Authority.

Darren Divall, Road Safety Manager for TfWM, accepting the Most Promising Project Award at the Global Ministerial Road Safety Conference in Marrakesh

The innovative project uses AI sensors to identify and address potential incidents before they happen.

A total of 40 VivaCity sensors within the TfWM network have been upgraded with near miss detection capabilities, providing real-time traffic data to calculate the likelihood of collisions, with a particular focus on protecting more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many. Which is why we are committed to achieving Vision Zero – no deaths or serious injuries on our roads.

“We need to use every tool available to us to make our roads safer – education of drivers, enforcement of speed limits, and developing technology that prevents collisions before they happen.

“I am delighted this work has been internationally recognised. Our innovative use of AI technology is making our roads safer before anyone gets hurt.”

The data-driven insights generated by the AI near-miss sensors help TfWM and local authorities to prioritise infrastructure improvements and safety measures based on accurate, real-time information.

Mat MacDonald, the region’s Road Safety Commissioner, said: “This award highlights the incredible potential of the technology we’re pioneering in the West Midlands to tackle unacceptable dangers on our road network.

“The information it generates will allow us to curb speeding, reduce traffic volumes and improve protections for vulnerable road users in high-risk locations.

“This innovative, robust and productive approach shows we will be using every tool in the box to make sure our region’s streets are safe for everyone who uses them.”

The sensors build on the Regional Road Safety Action Plan’s broader crackdown on dangerous driving, complementing other actions set out in the plan including additional funding for extra staff to review speed cameras and dashcam footage.

One local highway authority using the analysis to guide its road safety work is Coventry City Council. It is set to install a pedestrian refuge on Grange Road in the city after several near misses were recorded by the AI technology.