Vodafone has launched a new platform that would connect road users directly with transport authorities to allow vehicles to receive real-time safety information, hazard warnings and traffic updates.
The platform would work with any device or in-vehicle system a passenger uses and is compatible with third-party apps and in-vehicle navigation systems. Vodafone said it is also collaborating with several companies to bring the technology to road users and plan to launch the platform in its own Vodafone Automotive apps later this year.
Called Safter Transport for Europe Platform (STEP), the platform seeks to solve data fragmentation and information silos that limit the benefits connectivity can bring to road safety. Often, transit authorities are limited to delivering updates to safety through road infrastructure such as motorway gantries, variable-message or matrix signs. This is due to a limited number of technologies developed by independent manufacturers such as in-vehicle navigation systems.
STEP is a cloud-based platform that connects to governments, transport authorities, vehicle manufacturers, mobility service providers and other mobile network operators.
“Improving road safety is still a major challenge for Europe,” said Joakim Reiter, chief external and corporate affair officer at Vodafone. “We believe that open platforms for faster, more efficient data sharing can play a significant role in helping prevent the unnecessary fatalities and injuries happening on our roads each year.”
The system will likely be used with Vodafone’s 5G network to connect municipalities to vehicles. Trials at Vodafone’s 5G Mobility Lab in Germany have explored using the next generation technology and highly precise location tracking to help improve traffic safety.
Vodafone said the long-term goal is to develop the platform’s safety functionality to include detection warnings for vulnerable road users like cyclists or pedestrians out of view as well as fleet management, stolen vehicle tracking and supporting usage-based insurance.
