Real-time safety monitoring for vehicle accidents in mountainous terrain

Road accidents in hilly terrains remain a critical issue due to insufficient driver safety awareness, overspeeding, inadequate safety measures, and ineffective monitoring systems. Despite India's commitment to the Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety in 2015 to halve road accidents and fatalities by 2020, progress has been limited. Between 2016 and 2017, accidents reduced by only 3.27%, fatalities by just 1.9%, and early 2018 saw a 1.68% increase in fatalities. Over the past decade, road accidents have claimed approximately 1.3 lakh lives annually, equivalent to the population of cities like Roorkee or Darjeeling. To address this challenge, this paper proposes an Advanced Prevention Unit (APU) system designed to mitigate accidents in hilly regions. The APU integrates a cost-effective Raspberry Pi board with sensors to monitor traffic, detect violations, and issue over-speeding alerts. It also warns drivers of approaching vehicles at sharp curves. The system processes data using Microsoft Cognitive Services and ensures continuous oversight through a centralized command center. Key metrics such as accident frequency, response times, and helmet violations are targeted to enhance safety. This innovative approach offers a cost-effective and life-saving solution to road safety, especially in high-risk hilly terrains. By addressing critical gaps in monitoring and enforcement, the APU system presents a practical strategy to reduce accidents, save lives, and support India’s road safety objectives.