In a significant milestone for road safety awareness, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI)—the largest research and development center for Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside Germany—celebrated a decade of its Accident Research team at the Mercedes-Benz SAFE ROADS India Summit 2024 in Bengaluru. This event underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to enhancing road safety in India, a country where road safety remains a critical concern.
Table of Contents
Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 10 Years of Accident Research in India: A Commitment to Road Safety
The Urgent Need for Road Safety
India faces a pressing road safety crisis, with over 4.8 lakh road accidents reported in 2023, resulting in 1.72 lakh fatalities. Research conducted by MBRDI reveals that 95% of drivers and front passengers who wore seat belts were uninjured in accidents, highlighting the effectiveness of passive safety systems. This data emphasizes the importance of safety measures and the need for continuous innovation in road safety technologies.
Bridging the Gap Between Risk and Safety
The Accident Research team in India serves as a digital hub for global accident research operations, specializing in accident reconstruction, anonymization, and data analytics. By evaluating safety system effectiveness under diverse Indian road conditions, the team has conducted 52 critical accident investigations since 2019, including seven involving electric vehicles. A notable achievement was the investigation of the first EQS accident, showcasing the team’s expertise in emerging automotive technologies.
By analyzing accident data, the team identifies common accident patterns and vehicle deformation, which aids in developing more effective protection systems for future Mercedes-Benz models.
A Vision for Safer Roads
“Road safety is a global challenge that requires localized understanding and actionable solutions,” said Prof. Dr. Paul Dick, Director of Vehicle Safety, Durability, and Corrosion Protection at Mercedes-Benz AG. “At Mercedes-Benz, our ultimate purpose transcends technology; it’s about saving human lives. MBRDI’s decade-long accident research provides crucial insights to fulfill this purpose. With safety embedded in our core ethos, we leverage data-driven innovation to tackle the unique challenges of diverse markets while advancing our vision of accident-free mobility by 2050.”
Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Safety
Building on the legacy of 55 years of accident research in Germany, the Indian team has developed advanced technologies, including deep learning-based image anonymization with over 80% accuracy. Utilizing tools like Xentry diagnostics and Python-based accident data analysis, Mercedes-Benz is accelerating the implementation of vehicle safety improvements. The team employs 3D scanning with Scaniverse, real-time digital data entry, and augmented reality through VuZix smart glasses for efficient global collaboration. Additionally, e-Call data ensures precise accident tracking while sophisticated anonymization techniques protect user privacy.
A Shared Responsibility for Road Safety
Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO of MBRDI, emphasized the importance of collective action: “We believe that road safety is not just a priority but a shared responsibility. The SAFE ROADS initiative is a testament to our commitment to raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and taking an insights-driven approach to address India’s unique road safety challenges. Our teams meticulously collect and analyze critical accident data, enabling us to identify patterns and develop impactful solutions. By integrating technology and partnerships, we are enhancing vehicle safety capabilities and driving a shift towards safer road practices in India.”
The SAFE ROADS India Summit: A Platform for Innovation
The SAFE ROADS India Summit is part of a nationwide initiative launched in 2015, bringing together policymakers, academia, industry leaders, NGOs, and students to foster dialogue and showcase innovative solutions for road safety. A distinguished panel, including Piyush Tewari, Founder & CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation, and M. N. Anucheth, IPS, Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Bengaluru, discussed the significance of in-depth data for improving safety.
Student Ideathon: Innovative Solutions for Road Safety
The summit also featured a student ideathon focused on road safety, where a team from IIT Madras won for their innovative idea on LiDAR-based terrain drop-off detection for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This technology uses high-precision sensors to map real-time terrain and alert drivers to hazards in hilly regions.
The first runner-up from IIT Hyderabad proposed a dynamic driver feedback system that leverages artificial intelligence to integrate vehicle kinematic characteristics and driver behavior, providing real-time recommendations for safer driving. The second runner-up, also from IIT Madras, suggested a geo-fencing solution that automatically enforces speed limits in sensitive areas, such as school zones and residential neighborhoods, by communicating with a vehicle’s electronic control unit. These innovative ideas demonstrate the potential of advanced technology and intelligent systems to enhance road safety.
