Transport for West Midlands: Near miss detection with VivaCity

Between January and August 2024, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) successfully conducted a proof-of-concept pilot with VivaCity, their solution provider. VivaCity, already operating 440 sensors across the region to monitor air quality and traffic flow, integrated additional AI capabilities into 40 of these sensors to detect near-miss road collisions. This real time data has enabled road safety practitioners to proactively identify and address dangerous hotspots, significantly reducing the risk of fatalities and serious injuries.

Prior to this initiative, council officers relied solely on data from killed or seriously injured (KSI) incidents or community reports, necessitating a reactive approach to road safety. The near miss sensor data now enables a proactive and preventative approach, providing a robust evidence base for informed decision making. Moreover, considering the substantial financial costs associated with major road collisions, this proactive approach has the potential to generate significant cost savings across the region.

Beyond the pilot, TfWM has secured investment to continue for a further 30 months beyond August 2024 to support the development of a broader road safety evidence base and delivery of the Refreshed Regional Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030 and its delivery plan, the Regional Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2030.

Privacy and data security are paramount for both TfWM and VivaCity. VivaCity adheres to a "privacy by design" principle, ensuring their technology does not infringe upon residents' privacy. This includes intentional blurring of all images to anonymise faces and number plates. Furthermore, the supplier has explicitly chosen not to utilise their technology for enforcement purposes, prioritising the maintenance of privacy.

A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) was conducted, following the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) template, to ensure robust compliance with best practices. While some personal data processing is necessary for the collection and processing of basic data, maintaining anonymity remains a core objective. 

The project's governance approach must align with the broader governance structures of TfWM and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Road safety practitioners report to the enforcement arm of the Strategic Group, encompassing strategic directors and officers. Additionally, Gold Command meetings involving Chief Executives, the Mayor, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Executive Director of Transport for West Midlands provide a crucial forum for oversight. The project's goals and outcomes must be fully aligned with the strategic objectives of these key stakeholders.

VivaCity's sensors possessed the underlying functionalities for near-miss detection prior to the TfWM pilot, enabling the efficient utilisation of existing infrastructure. The strategic enablement of 40 sensors in areas with high footfall or cycling activity, coupled with leveraging existing infrastructure, significantly reduced the implementation costs.

The sensors provide a holistic view of near miss collisions, offering diverse perspectives on the issue via a detailed dashboard. This includes visualisations of near miss speeds, movement pathways, and heat maps illustrating the frequency and precise locations of these incidents. These multi-layered insights offer a comprehensive understanding of near-miss collisions compared to traditional data, such as average speeds, leading to more informed decision-making by road safety practitioners.

Another key impact stems from the sensors' ability to capture video clips of near miss incidents. This has twofold significance: firstly, these visual records demonstrate the inherent dangers, effectively garnering buy-in and support for safety initiatives. Secondly, the videos have revealed previously unconsidered factors, such as parked vehicles, road conditions, risk exposure, and road user behaviour. This has fundamentally shifted TfWM's approach to road safety.

While the analysis of near misses is site-specific, identifiable themes in high-risk areas can be extrapolated to roads without sensors across the region. Decision-makers utilise these sensor insights to inform pre-emptive interventions and support investment justifications.

The development of this solution has been a collaborative journey for both TfWM and VivaCity. TfWM have provided valuable feedback, such as the need for searchable filters, which VivaCity diligently incorporated. This iterative process resulted in a tailored tool with maximum impact for TfWM. In turn, VivaCity benefited from direct user feedback, accelerating the refinement and enhancement of their technology. These feedback loops have also provided valuable insights into the practical implementation of their tool and facilitated the development of best practice guidance allowing other organisations to benefit from lessons learnt.

The introduction of near-miss sensors has had a significant strategic impact, not only on TfWM's approach to road safety but also on the wider regional priorities. The influence of the data generated by sensors cannot be overstated. Road safety practitioners have gained new insights, observing previously overlooked aspects of road safety. For example, the analysis of video clips has brought behavioural challenges to the forefront, fostering valuable dialogue between road safety experts and behavioural psychologists. Furthermore, it has reshaped the understanding of risk, highlighting the critical importance of considering risk exposure even in areas with seemingly high levels of road safety compliance.

This new data-driven approach has transformed accident reduction strategies from reactive to proactive and predictive. Near-miss sensors have become an integral component of TfWM's road safety strategy, aligning perfectly with its Vision Zero target – a commitment to eliminating all road fatalities and serious injuries. This strategic focus is further solidified by its integration into the region's local transport plan. Moreover, this initiative has fostered closer collaboration with regional councils, reinforcing TfWM's role as an enabling and supportive organisation. The success of this approach is evident in the adoption of near-miss detection technology by partner councils in the region, such as Coventry and Walsall.

Within the first six months of deployment, the sensors identified an impressive 61,000 near-miss incidents. This wealth of data has provided TfWM with invaluable evidence to inform the implementation of targeted interventions. As a result, cost-effective measures, such as the installation of central road islands and the narrowing of junction mouths, have been identified and implemented.

The success of this project has solidified TfWM's reputation as an innovative leader in road safety. The organisation's achievements were duly recognised at the ITS Awards 2024, where they received prestigious awards for "Better Safety Through Technology" and "Best Project of the Year." This recognition has further enhanced TfWM's image as an early adopter of cutting-edge technologies. This success has generated significant interest both nationally and internationally, with numerous organisations seeking to learn from TfWM's approach and explore potential collaborations for trialling this innovative technology.

TfWM will continue to refine the technology through ongoing collaboration with VivaCity. This partnership fosters a mutually beneficial environment for continuous improvement, enabling VivaCity to adapt their technology to meet the evolving needs of the organisation.

TfWM aims to solidify its position as a leader in the adoption of new technologies. Aspiring to become a testbed for innovation, the organisation seeks to integrate more AI and smart technology solutions to address transportation challenges. To ensure a responsible and strategic approach to technology adoption, TfWM is developing a robust framework to prioritise future applications and maximise value for residents.