VivaCity, a measure of transport technology that transforms cities into smarter and more efficient places to live and work, partners with Transport for Wales (TfW), the Welsh Government (WG) and Welsh local authorities to encourage safe, active and sustainable travel.
Working with various local authorities across the country, VivaCity’s AI-powered sensors help shape infrastructure decision-making, ensuring improved travel for road users. This is amid news that More than half Of the fatal accidents in Britain occur on country roads and cyclists Probably three times To kill more on a country road than on an urban road.
VivaCity’s 20mph sensors at selected Phase 1 sites have been used to understand the impact of the introduction of the new default speed limit in Wales over the past 18 months. This data allowed behavior change to be captured over time, and also looked at speed behaviors at crossings, such as yielding and giving way.
I work with Cardiff Council As part of the nondescript zebra crossings experiment, VivaCity’s artificial intelligence sensors collected de-identified road user data to understand the impact of the crossings on pedestrian and vehicle interactions. The insights provided by these sensors have proven to be accurate and anonymous, providing the Council with valuable information about the behavior of both vehicles and cyclists when pedestrians use crossings.
Zebra crossings that formed part of the walking route to school were also analysed. The aim was to understand how reduced speed limits affected pedestrian safety. Through the use of VivaCity’s sensors, the council was able to gain valuable insights into how vehicles change their behavior when approaching crossings and how the presence of zebra-side crossings affects pedestrian crossings, thus improving road safety.
In addition, three VivaCity sensors have been installed as a temporary scheme by Monmouthshire County Council In Abergavenny, after the implementation of a bicycle lane in the city centre. The sensors collect multimedia, route, and speed data, which can be used to determine whether cycling has increased in popularity as a result of the bike path, and whether vehicle speed has decreased after the roadway has narrowed.
Ryan Watts, Head of Transportation Modeling at TfW, said: “The VivaCity sensors application has provided invaluable data to local authorities that can help with safety regulations and infrastructure improvements. We chose the VivaCity sensors because they are able to provide highly accurate data about speed and interactions between pedestrians and road users. which traditional technologies have not been able to deliver. Our aim is to make roads in Wales safe for all road users, and VivaCity helps us understand what we can do to achieve this.”
As part of a nationwide trial to reduce the default speed limit to 20 mph in residential areas, Flintshire County Council Also implemented VivaCity AI sensors to monitor and analyze the effect of reducing speed limits on pedestrians, vehicle sizes, and pedestrian/vehicle interactions. The Welsh government has confirmed that the national implementation of the default speed limit is set for September 2023, stating that the primary motivation behind the initiative is to encourage active and sustainable travel.
Mark Nicholson, CEO and Co-Founder Vitalitycommented: “While VivaCity’s initial efforts focused mainly on urban towns and cities, further expansion into rural areas is necessary to reduce accidents on our roads. It has been great to see the positive results from our sensors in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Flintshire County Councils, and to see The insights you provide to local governments. VivaCity’s goal is to help make travel safe and sustainable for everyone, and we’re proud to see our technology help make a difference.”
Not only is VivaCity’s data useful for improving road safety, but it can also be used in line with the Welsh Transport Assessment Guidelines (WelTAG) framework. The framework requires that any proposed transport intervention be based on robust, long-term data. This is where VivaCity’s data comes in, providing the evidence needed to support the development, assessment and evaluation of such interventions in Wales. The importance of strong evidence is highlighted in the WelTAG framework, which maintains that it should underpin the entire process, from case identification to post-implementation. Using VivaCity’s data, transport planners in Wales can make informed decisions about proposed interventions, ensuring they are evidence-based and have a high chance of success.