Initiative details
The use of bicycles is becoming more and more common, both at urban and sports level, becoming a healthy and sustainable alternatives that promotes responsible mobility. The increase in the number of cyclists has caused an increase in accidents in which they are involved. According to data from the General Directorate of Traffic, 43 cyclists died on the road in 2022. This poses a new challenge for the authorities, who must promote measures for the protection of these particularly vulnerable users. The Detection and Alert System for cyclists on the Road deal with this problem. This equipment is designed to alert drivers of the presence of cyclists on the road with sufficient advance notice, allowing them to adapt their driving by reducing speed and/or increasing the safety distance. Prevention is configured as a necessary element to reduce accident rates. When it detects the presence of cyclists on the road, the system sends an alert to the intelligent LED warning signage for drivers to turn it on, reinforcing the message through a text display.When this circumstance ceases, the signal remains off, contributing to the objectives of sustainability and energy efficiency.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Public authorities
Topic
Provide alternative solutions
Organisation details
PROYECTOS INTEGRALES DE BALIZAMIENTO, S.L.
Enterprise
Spain
CABANILLAS DEL CAMPO (GUADALAJARA)
Contact name
PATRICIA CÁMARA EXPÓSITO
Telephone number
+34699566307
patricia.camara@proinbal.es
Website link
Project activities
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
For the design and development of this project, a technical and economic feasibility study has been carried out, as well as a schedule with different execution phases, which final result has been an effective and safe product. The Detection and Alert System for Cyclists on the Road was presented as a solution to the challenge posed by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility within the Innovation Public Procurement Program for the protection of especially vulnerable users. It is also designed to reduce mobility in Smart cities, since more cities join the bike-friendly concept. Fields tests have been carried out on the CM-1008 road (Guadalajara), reducing exponentially accidents on this road, which is traditionally used by cyclists for their journeys. Monitoring through our IoT platform has played an important role in the execution of this project. We are currently testing a new detection sensor to increase the reliability percentage from 95% to 100%.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
The main challenge that the company overcame was the allocation of human and financial resources to the Project.Sometimes, the same people in charge of innovation carry out other tasks, which leads to time and work overload problems, affecting their creativity. Hiring new experts or technologies related to innovation is expensive, involving an economic effort for companies that can affect their economic viability. A large part of the resources come from the companie's own funds. The projects of Research and Development do not always produce economic returns in the desired period, implying a lag between the investment made and its recovery, provided that the product is accepted by the market. The regulations established by the authorities regardings roads are not very flexible, which is a barrier to innovation in the sector.
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
We are trustees of the Center for Intelligent Infrastructure Innovation (CI3), a non-profit foundation of general interest, whose purpose is to contribute to the promotion and development of Information Technology (IT) applied to infrastructures. Our aim is to become a national and international reference in research, development and innovation of products and services for advanced infrastructure projects, both in urban an interurban environments.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
This is a solution with TRL8 technological maturity level. We are currently working on a project with the Region of Murcia for its implementation on the RM515 road as a tested and effective product for the protection of vulnerable users. Regarding the measurement of the impact, as we have already mentioned, the accident rate has been reduced on the CM-1008 road where the pilot was installed. Monitoring the equipment allows us to obtain data relative to the device itself (energy consumption and operating condition), and complete traffic statistics at the installation point (number of vehicles, speed, typology, etc.). It is an energy efficient system, since it works with solar power, sustainable and eco-responsible, since while it does not detect cyclists on the road it remains off, contributing to the objective of reducing the impact of the carbon footprint set by the 2030 Agenda .
What has been the effect of the activities?
Increase protection of particularly vulnerable users (cyclists) on the stretches where the system has been installed by reducing accident rates to a minimum: 0 victims. Reduction of material and personal damages.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
Our solution allows us to reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists to a minimum on the stretches where it is installed, reducing material and personal damage to these particularly vulnerable users. Our system is scalable, constituting an effective solution both on interurban stretches and on urban stretches with bike lanes.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
Social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and Youtube), newsletter sending and prescription in Public Administrations.
