AI-Enabled Traffic Light Stays Red Until Motorcyclists Put On Their Helmets

By El Planteo

In an effort to improve road safety and raise awareness about the importance of wearing helmets while riding motorcycles, Honda Motor launched an innovative campaign called "awareness traffic light" in Argentina a couple of years ago. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the advertising agency Almacén de Buenos Aires, was implemented in the town of Campana, aiming to significantly impact motorcycle riders' safety practices.

This project emerges in response to a concerning statistic: 44% of traffic accident victims in Argentina are motorcyclists, according to Honda Safety. Despite authorities' efforts to reverse this trend, it has been challenging to influence the behavior of some irresponsible drivers. With the implementation of this technology in traffic lights, the aim is to ensure compliance with road safety regulations in an innovative and effective manner, thereby contributing to the reduction of accidents and promoting a culture of responsibility and caution among motorcyclists.

The "awareness traffic light" is part of a broader strategy by Honda Safety, the department of Honda dedicated to promoting safe driving. The campaign is based on the use of advanced technology traffic lights to encourage compliance with road regulations, especially the mandatory use of helmets for motorcyclists.

A camera equipped with artificial intelligence is capable of identifying motorcycle drivers who are not wearing helmets, and as a result, the associated traffic light remains red, preventing them from proceeding until they comply with the regulation.

Walter Onorato, from Almacén, explained the rationale behind this initiative: "The goal of the action was to put the helmet usage issue back on the agenda. For that, we needed a disruptive idea. We chose technology as a facilitator of this need."

María Fernanda Ledesma Padilla, marketing sub-manager of Honda, highlighted the importance of the campaign: "The traffic light was the excuse for us all to talk again about the importance of wearing helmets. We knew that our ultimate challenge was to change the bad habit of 4 out of 10 people who ride motorcycles in Argentina."

The impact of this campaign is reflected in the words of Martín Montenegro, a driving instructor at Honda Motor de Argentina, who highlights the seriousness of the situation: "The figures are alarming, we believe it is necessary to act, to become aware and to be responsible. Especially in the current context, where the motorcycle is a highly chosen means of transport for commuting. Helmets save lives: they prevent or mitigate blows and wounds to the head."

Photo via YouTube

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy. The content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed by El Planteo editors.