LLM Considers Using AI To Detect Real-Time Accidents

In order to speed up rescue reaction times on highways, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) is considering the possibility of fully implementing the Automatic Road Incident Detection System (Arids), an artificial intelligence-based technology for real-time road accident detection developed by UPM engineering team led by road safety specialist Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua.
It is expected that the Arids, which is not yet fully utilized, will enable first responders to incidents more quickly. After being introduced in February, the system is presently in the pilot phase at portions totalling 1,000km at expressways and federal roads in Klang Valley and Kuching, according Law.

“We have presented to LLM the need to adopt it fully throughout Malaysia,” said Law.
ARIDS is accessible via a mobile device and operates continually utilizing Google traffic data to analyze traffic congestion data, including whether traffic signals are operational, and deliver accident warnings.

According to Law, the system uses neural networks—a kind of machine learning technique inspired by how humans learn—to detect accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and other traffic situations autonomously in real time. Users of ARIDS will receive automatic notifications of anomalies via WhatsApp, eliminating the need for human input.

Following the fatal crash involving the container lorry in Simpang Renggam, Johor, on Nov 15, Law said it was detected by ARIDS at 7.46am that day.
“However, checks showed that the earliest official report from the North-South Expressway (Plus) Trafik X channel stated that the incident occurred at 8:09am.

“If the crash was detected earlier, rescue response time would have been cut shorter, with better survival rates. “Most accidents on highways in Malaysia are attended to based on CCTV monitoring by the respective highway concessionaire, or reports from users or highway patrols,” Law added.

For the record, Brunei and China's provincial capital city of Xi'an have implemented the Malaysian-made technology in their capital city to thoroughly monitor traffic light junctions as well as detect accidents and abnormalities in an effort to improve road safety.