Government’s Move Towards Safer Roads: Inbuilt Collision Warning Systems in Cars

In a significant stride towards enhancing road safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed the integration of an innovative safety feature in vehicles—the Moving Off Information System (MOIS), also known as the Collision Warning System (CWS). This proposal aims to address the alarming increase in road accidents, particularly those involving pedestrians and cyclists. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this groundbreaking technology and understand how it can revolutionize road safety.

Understanding MOIS/CWS: A Beacon of Safety

The MOIS, or Collision Warning System, is a cutting-edge technology designed to empower drivers with the ability to detect and receive timely notifications about the presence of nearby pedestrians or cyclists. This preemptive alert system significantly reduces the likelihood of collisions, especially in situations involving low-speed M2, M3, N2, and N3 vehicles interacting with pedestrians or cyclists. The proposal emphasizes the severity of such collisions and the dire need for advanced safety measures.

The Imperative Need for Collision Warning Systems

Despite advancements in vehicle design, road accidents persist, prompting the government’s proactive approach to implement additional safety measures. The proposed collision warning system recognizes the limitations of traditional visibility enhancement measures, such as increased mirrors in vehicles. Acknowledging the severity of the issue, the MoRTH’s proposal mandates the inclusion of inbuilt collision warning systems in all vehicles, transcending the current availability in premium cars.

Mechanism Behind the Technology

The MOIS operates as a Crash Avoidance System, leveraging radar, lasers, or cameras to detect pedestrians, cyclists, or obstacles on the road that could lead to a collision. This comprehensive monitoring system offers different alert options, including video, audio, or haptic feedback, with some systems integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) vision technology for enhanced accuracy.

Types of Collision Warning Systems

1. Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System: FCW systems monitor the speed of the vehicle, the vehicle in front, and the distance between them. When vehicles approach dangerously close, the system issues a collision alert, employing various communication channels like audio or video to prevent conflicts.

2. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) System: AEB technology is a vital component that automatically applies brakes in the event of an impending collision. This system ensures gradual braking, allowing the driver to intervene before a collision occurs.

3. Lane Departure Warning System: This system alerts the driver if the vehicle deviates from its lane, aiding in real-time detection of blind spots and reducing the risk of collisions. It proves especially useful when drivers inadvertently drift out of their lanes while speeding.

Addressing the Alarming Statistics

The urgency of implementing collision warning systems is underscored by the sobering statistics of road accidents in India. With an anticipated 12 percent increase in road accidents in 2022, resulting in over 4.6 lakh incidents, the need for robust safety measures becomes paramount. In 2022 alone, 21 people lost their lives every hour due to road accidents. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s commitment to halve the number of accidents and fatalities by 2024 underscores the gravity of the situation.