SAFERIDER Advanced telematics for enhancing the safety and comfort of motorcycle riders
Riders’ fatalities account for 17,8% of the total number of road accident fatalities in Europe and, in 2006, compared to a passenger car, a motorcycle was thirteen times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident for every kilometre travelled.
During the last decade, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS) development is one of the main research areas of the automotive industry, aiming to increase safety and comfort of four-wheel vehicles. These new technologies have been already introduced in the automotive market and their evolution is fast and efficient.
Nevertheless, the application of such technologies in motorcycles, in order to increase the safety and comfort of riders, an extremely susceptible road user group, is currently lacking behind.
However, such technologies should be designed in a way that will not interfere with the riding task. Motorcycles are very sensitive vehicles and any unexpected change in their motion could lead to loss of control and most probably to an accident.
The implementation of appropriate ADAS/ IVIS technologies in motorcycles might contribute to the significant enhancement of riders’ safety. SAFERIDER project, launched in January 2008, aims to study the potential of ADAS/IVIS integration on motorcycles for the most crucial functionalities and develop efficient and rider-friendly interfaces and interaction elements for riders comfort and safety.
SAFERIDER aims to adapt selected ADAS/IVIS functionalities for motorcycles and develop the appropriate HMI for them. In total, 8 such functionalities are planned to be developed:
- ADAS functions: Speed alert, Curve speed warning, Frontal collision warning, Intersection support.
- IVIS functions: eCall, Navigation & Route Guidance, Telediagnostics, Weather, traffic & black spot warnings.
