The rising rate of accidents in the U.S., Latin America, and other countries, has led to a big upsurge in the demand for intelligent transportation systems (ITS). According to Grand View Research the ITS market is expected to be worth $51 billion by 2025, which will not only reduce travel time and waiting times at signals, but also help lower carbon footprints and, of course, reduce the rates of road accidents. The investment involved may be large, but researchers note that the benefit-to-cost ratio is high. Moreover, new regulations to improve driver safety in countries like the U.S, will contribute to the popularity of intelligent systems, with drivers increasingly demanding technology that can help them comply with rules almost effortlessly.
Road Accident Statistics in Puerto Rico
Some U.S. states, like Florida, highlight the need for change. In the year 2017, for instance, there were a total of 388,032 car crashes, with fatalities including those of pedestrians. These statistics are echoed in countries like Puerto Rico. Although the number of deaths from road accidents in Puerto Rico has dropped from 96 in 2018 to 75 in 2019, half of the year is still left, so the number considers to pose a worry for authorities. Currently, the global ITS market is forecast to be strong in North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East.
How can ITS Systems Help Keep You Safe on the Road?
Intelligent transport systems are seen as an excellent way for both newer and senior drivers in particular, to stay road safe. ITS can help drivers avoid accidents through features such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication, which warn drivers – for instance, when they are getting close to a vehicle that is slow-moving. ITS can also be directed at specific groups of drivers – for instance, new drivers, helping them avoid accidents. Features such as driver feedback provide real time warnings of poor driving, recognizing departure from a lane or prompting a driver to reduce his or her speed. Many accidents in younger groups are caused by velocity and a lack of mindfulness, making warnings key to keeping one’s eye on the road. Other interesting systems that can help new drivers include ‘smart key systems’ that identify who can drive (and when), and reporting behavior systems, which store vital information that parents can consult later. This information can include speed, throttle use, time and location of trips, etc.
Driver Education Needs to Change to Keep Up with ITS
As noted in the report Preventing Teen Motor Crashes: Contributions from the Behavioral and Social Sciences: Workshop Report, traditional education of new drivers has focused on rules of the road. However, in order to keep up with the changes brought about by ITS, computer-focused education can also incorporate topics like driver attitudes, risk taking, and the many challenges of driving, via simulation and other techniques. That is, technology can help at the educational level as well, by providing drivers with the chance to practice driving in simulated precarious conditions, or by providing them with real-time risks that result in an accident if focus isn’t 100% on the road.
ITS has plenty of store for new and more advanced drivers alike. Technologies such as speed control and warnings can ensure that a small slip-up does not result in lost lives. ITS will be as helpful for those behind the wheel as for those on foot, ensuring that drivers are more aware of pedestrians and their proximity.
