4 minute read
Embracing technology for smart transport solutions
BY JESSIE TAYLOR
More than 14 000 people die on South African roads every year, making the country one of the highest ranked for road fatalities.
South Africa is not the only country with these statistics – most of the content experiences fatal road accidents above that of the global average. However, new technology could make roads safer on home soil and across Africa.
In South Africa, around 26 out of every 100 000 people die in road accidents. This is significantly higher than the global average of 18 per 100 000. The high fatality rate has been described as a national crisis by the AA, and it also comes with a heavy financial burden. The economic cost of fatal accidents has been estimated at close to R150 billion. This economic cost is due to healthcare provided to those who have been injured in accidents, insurance claims, and legal costs. They also deprive countries of a productive and skilled workforce.
Globally, around 1.35 million people die in road accidents – and more than 90% of these deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries. Road accidents in Africa occur at a higher rate than the global average – it records on average 26.6 deaths per 100 000 population.
However, the continent is also in an ideal position to benefit from new technologies that increased road safety and improve public transport, with is growing youth population.
This population requires a reliable and safe public transport and road network system, to ensure they are able to commute to work and build Africa’s economy. To ensure this system, the continent will have to look at digital transportation and advanced applications which aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management. To embrace the digital era, countries will have to look at smart solutions to traffic congestion, pollution and poor road safety, based on data informing integrated public transport systems, passenger information systems, and transit services. Here are just four technologies that are already improving the continent’s transport routes:
1. Digital payment system
Many African countries rely on minibus taxis to provide public transport. However, as the industry tends to operate on cash, it is vulnerable to various risks. Operators are required to provide smaller denomination currency for change and face the safety risks associated with carrying large amounts of cash.
To mitigate these challenges, a West Africa pre-payment platform called Gona is enabling cashless payments on a fleet of minibuses. The platform allows commuters to scan a QR code for the vehicle they want to travel on and make a digital payment.
2. Smart traffic systems
More and more transport data is being kept in cloud storage, and this opens up the possibility for machine learning and artificial intelligence. The development of smart traffic management systems allows for machine learning and quickly adapting to various situations such as emergencies. The public transport system would be able to recognise accidents and reroute traffic away from them, as well as alerting healthcare facilities of incoming casualties.
3. Robot cops
One successful adoption of roads safety technologies can be seen in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These intelligent robot cops, installed on major roads, aim to protect pedestrians crossing the city’s roads. The robots feature cameras that record everything happening around them, even at night. They are designed to correlate the functions of human traffic officers and traffic lights, as well as collect data. The anthropomorphic robots raise and bend their arms to stop passing vehicles and let pedestrians pass. They are also programmed to speak to pedestrians to indicate when it is safe to cross the road.
4. Machine learning
Machine learning is being harnessed to increase the function of road cameras.
Through machine learning, objects can be identified and classified, making it easier to identify slow-moving traffic, accidents, and foreign objects on the road. Road use trends can be mapped out, such as where informal pick-up and drop-off points are, and safety measures can be put in place. This machine learning can be used to thwart crime.
For instance, it may identify vehicles stopping suddenly and people approaching a vehicle, potentially in a hijacking, and alert authorities.
Embracing technology in the transport sector can allow South Africa, and its neighbours, to leapfrog to safer, more efficient transport solutions. Effective transport systems are the backbone of economies, and the adoption of technologies to enable these systems has the potential to transform how people live and work.
