West Midlands AI sensors aim to boost road safety and cut deaths
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be used across the West Midlands to try to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region's roads, officials say.Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is using AI sensors at 40 locations to record near misses and work out where to bring in safety measures.Mat MacDonald, the newly-appointed West Midlands road safety commissioner, said they would allow hot spots to be identified and action taken before "tragedy strikes".Sensors have already recorded several near misses at Grange Road, Coventry, where measures will be brought in to improve road safety.
Mayor Richard Parker said the changes included widening the pavements, extending the corner of a road junction and putting a pedestrian stopping place in the centre of the road.He added the technology had been placed at several high risk road junctions around the region and would be moved about the area over the next 18 months.
The near misses would include cases of vehicles passing within inches of pedestrians or cyclists, officials said.There were 50 people killed on roads in the West Midlands in 2024, according to TfWM.The latest figures showed while road deaths in the region have fallen by 12% in the last two years, 43% of fatalities were pedestrians."By identifying danger hot spots, it will allow us to act before tragedy strikes," Mr MacDonald said. "Before yet another family in our region has to suffer the indescribable anguish of losing a loved one in a sudden, violent and ultimately avoidable way."
The initiative is part of TfWM's Regional Road Safety Action Plan which is aiming for no crashes on West Midlands roads by 2040.The sensor technology will cost £100,000 over the next two years.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
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