Next-Generation Vehicle Accident Prevention and Detection Using Intelligent Control Systems

Abstract

The increasing number of road accidents, both in urban areas due to low-speed collisions and on highways due to high-speed crashes, highlights the urgent need for intelligent vehicular safety systems. This project proposes a Next-Generation Vehicle Accident Prevention and Detection System that leverages intelligent control mechanisms to enhance road safety and reduce fatalities. The system continuously monitors the vehicle’s speed and the distance to obstacles ahead, which may include other vehicles, pedestrians, or animals. By employing real-time sensors and advanced algorithms, the system dynamically adjusts the vehicle\'s speed based on the proximity and velocity of detected objects. If the distance falls below a critical threshold, the control system automatically reduces speed or applies emergency braking to prevent a collision. In high-speed scenarios where collision avoidance may not be possible, the system focuses on minimizing the impact force to reduce injury risk. Additionally, in the event of an accident, the system initiates a post-crash protocol: it waits for a brief period (e.g., 5 seconds) to detect driver responsiveness. If no response is recorded, it assumes a severe incident has occurred and automatically transmits the vehicle’s GPS coordinates to emergency services using a GSM module. This ensures timely assistance at the precise location, potentially saving lives. By integrating smart sensors, control systems, and communication modules, this next-generation approach offers a comprehensive solution for proactive accident prevention and effective emergency response.

Introduction

Road safety remains a major global issue, with increasing vehicle use and urbanization contributing to higher accident rates. Traditional safety systems (airbags, seatbelts, ABS) respond after accidents occur. This study proposes a proactive, sensor-based intelligent vehicle system that prevents accidents and enhances emergency response.

Key Components:

1. Problem Addressed:

• Road accidents continue despite modern vehicle tech.

• Current systems often lack real-time hazard detection and automated emergency response.

2. Objectives:

• Monitor vehicle speed and distance to nearby objects using sensors.

• Use control algorithms for real-time speed regulation and emergency braking.

• Detect crashes and assess driver responsiveness.

• Send GPS-based emergency alerts via GSM if the driver is unresponsive.

3. System Architecture:

• Sensing Layer: Uses ultrasonic, speed, and crash sensors.

• Processing Layer: Microcontroller analyzes data and executes control decisions.

• Communication Layer: GPS and GSM modules send alerts; LEDs and buzzers provide driver feedback.

4. Components Used:

• Ultrasonic sensor, speed sensor, vibration sensor, GPS, GSM module, microcontroller (e.g., Arduino), LED display, power supply.

Accident Prevention Features:

• Real-time speed monitoring and control.

• Obstacle detection and automated braking to avoid collisions.

• Comparison of vehicle speed and distance to calculate safe stopping time.

Limitations:

• Prototype-level system, not yet tested in commercial vehicles.

• Performance may vary with weather conditions or hardware limitations.

• Accuracy can be affected by sensor interference or power constraints.

Conclusion

This project successfully demonstrates the design and prototype development of an intelligent vehicle accident prevention and detection system. By integrating ultrasonic distance sensors, speed sensors, a crash detection mechanism, and GSM/GPS communication modules, the system provides both proactive collision avoidance and efficient post-accident response. The implementation of real-time monitoring and automatic braking significantly reduces the chances of collision, while the emergency alert functionality ensures timely medical assistance if an accident occurs and the driver is unresponsive. The experimental results validate the system’s reliability in detecting potential hazards and actual crashes, activating appropriate safety measures, and transmitting emergency location data accurately. The use of readily available, low-cost hardware components further underscores the feasibility and affordability of the system, making it suitable for real-world deployment in low to mid-range vehicles.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Shyamkumar Parikh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.