The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) is considering the full adoption of the Automatic Road Incident Detection System (ARIDS) to detect road accidents in real time, enabling faster response times for emergency services, according to The Star. For the uninitiated, ARIDS is an artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
LLM director-general Datuk Sazali Harun told The Star that the authority’s serious consideration of the system after it was presented to the authority by the UPM team on 15 November 2024. However, he noted that ARIDS’ effectiveness will need further study before a final decision is made.
Currently, the system is being trialled on 1,000 km of expressways and federal roads in the Klang Valley and Kuching. UPM’s Road Safety Research Centre head Law Teik Hua revealed that the system continuously operates using Google traffic data to provide accident notifications and analyse traffic congestion, including traffic light functionality. He cited a recent fatal accident in Johor as an example of ARIDS’ efficiency, noting that it detected the incident at 7:46 am, 23 minutes before the first official report.
ARIDS leverages neural networks to autonomously detect accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and other traffic incidents in real time. Users are promptly notified via WhatsApp, with no need for manual input. This mobile traffic management solution can be accessed remotely, even via mobile phones, enhancing its flexibility and usability.
Law says the system has also gained international attention, with Brunei and the Chinese city of Xi’an having adopted it in pilot projects. In Xi’an, ARIDS monitors roads covering 200 traffic lights, while in Brunei, it oversees traffic light junctions in the capital city, improving traffic management and safety.
He emphasised the need to pair quicker accident detection with more stringent vehicle inspections, especially for heavy vehicles. Law noted that highway concessionaires are currently unable to enforce such checks and must rely on regulatory authorities.
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