Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
IN the blink of an eye, a routine drive can turn into a life-or-death situation.
Road accidents are a harsh reality, and timely emergency response can be the difference.
Now, Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) is changing the game with an innovative accident detection device that can be installed in vehicles, promising to revolutionise road safety and emergency response.
The Automatic Accident Detection system, developed by a team of computer engineering students, is designed to recognise when a vehicle has been involved in a serious car crash.
Within seconds, it sends an emergency alert to designated mobile phones, ensuring a swift response and potentially saving lives. This cutting-edge technology can detect various types of collisions, including head-on and side-swipe impacts, making it an invaluable tool for vehicle owners and fleet managers.
“We developed an accident detection and notification system, designed to facilitate a rapid response to accidents,” a Chinhoyi University software Engineer Daniel Chinyama (24) told The Herald on Saturday while exhibiting at the Harare Agricultural Show.
“This system can benefit both public and private transport. For instance, if you are driving alone in your car, we can link the system to your wife or a relative’s phone. In the event of an accident, the system immediately sends a notification – an SMS showing the exact location accompanied by a sound alert – to your wife’s phone.”
The project, according to Eng Chinyama, is already being piloted in Chinhoyi with a kombi fleet owner, having installed the devices.
“We conceived this idea after realising that precious lives were being lost due to delayed alerts to emergency response teams following accidents.
“We have already installed these devices in Chinhoyi on the kombis of a transport businessman’s fleet. If any of his vehicles are involved in an accident, the system immediately alerts him, providing the vehicle’s number plate and location. This way, there will be no excuses for delayed emergency responses, and lives can be saved.”
He added that the system would also help companies track drivers who crash vehicles and repair them covertly.
“Companies often face issues with drivers secretly fixing damaged vehicles without informing them. This system allows transport departments to monitor vehicles closely. If a driver is involved in an accident during a solo delivery, the company will be alerted and can respond promptly.”
Eng Chinyama expressed optimism that the system would reduce fatalities by detecting impacts to the entire vehicle.
“Our sensors detect impact to the entire vehicle, not just the front. Whether the car is hit from the back, side, or any other angle, the system detects it.
“We are confident that with full support, our nation can reduce the number of deaths caused by delayed emergency responses.”
The system can also be linked to emergency services such as police command centres, fire departments, hospitals and ambulance providers, ensuring a swift and coordinated response.
What sets this device apart is its ability to be installed directly in vehicles, making it a more accessible and reliable solution for the country.
Unlike smartphone-based accident detection systems, such as those found in certain iPhone and Apple Watch models, Google Pixel phones, and some Xiaomi models, this device does not rely on a phone’s sensors. In developed countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and several European nations, these smartphone features can detect car crashes and send emergency alerts.
