Technology driven ideas focus on preventing traffic dangers early

THE HANOI TIMES — Mobile phone use, drowsiness and inattention while driving are becoming more common, sharply increasing the risk of serious traffic accidents.

Recent incidents underline the danger. In Hanoi, a few days ago on Trinh Van Bo Street, a motorcyclist riding one-handed while checking a phone crashed into a cyclist traveling in the same direction.

About a month earlier, a drowsy driver mistakenly pressed the accelerator at the Vong overpass in Kim Lien Ward, triggering a chain collision that killed one person.

In the southern province of Dong Thap, a coach driver using a mobile phone collided with a truck parked along National Highway 50 about a month ago. Passengers recorded the crash and shared it online, intensifying public concern.

Against this backdrop, innovators are accelerating the development of technologies and early-warning systems to curb risky behavior and improve road safety.

The “Smart Access-Control and Age-Verification Vehicle Locking System”, created by Tran Van Han from Division 324, Military Region 4, won first prize at the Vietnam Traffic Safety Innovation 2025 contest. The project targets risk at the vehicle-management stage.

Han said everyday observations inspired the idea. Many families still manage vehicle access for children loosely, which leads to improper driving and avoidable accidents.

Therefore, he chose to address risk at its source by controlling who can access and operate a vehicle.

The system combines usage authorization with age verification to prevent casual key handovers before risks escalate.

Meanwhile, the “Driver State Monitoring Support System”, developed by a team from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, won second prize. The project focuses on detecting danger during driving.

Team representative Pham Quang Huy said long-distance trips sparked the idea. “I saw many drivers grow fatigued or lose focus without timely support tools,” he said.

The team developed a real-time system that monitors driver condition and issues alerts when warning signs appear.

Huy said the system’s strength lies in combining multiple data sources rather than relying on a single sensor. Eye-tracking cameras alone lose accuracy when drivers wear glasses, drive in low light or face visual obstructions.

To address this, the system integrates eye status, hand position on the steering wheel, physical contact and head orientation to create a fuller picture of driver attention.

Infrared cameras and computer vision track eye status and detect drowsiness with 92.7% accuracy in tests. Steering-wheel monitoring identifies attentive driving and flags distractions. Capacitive touch sensors confirm contact, while head-orientation tracking detects prolonged downward or off-center viewing.

“All these data points combine to assess concentration moment by moment,” Huy said.

Laboratory tests with 30 volunteers showed 94.6% overall accuracy and a processing delay of 0.28 seconds.

The team plans to work with businesses to test the system under real traffic conditions. “We expect applications in personal vehicles, long-haul transport and driver training centers,” Huy said.

After witnessing a family member crash while riding a motorcycle and talking on the phone, Second Lieutenant Nguyen Ngoc Khue, a third-year IT student at the Military Technical Academy, developed the “Focus to Live” warning system, which won a consolation prize.

The concept detects phone use as concentration drops and issues immediate alerts. The message “Focus to Live” stresses that delaying a call or text for minutes can protect riders and others.

The project remains at the concept and design stage, but Khue hopes to develop it using artificial intelligence, image processing and sensors.

Another consolation prize went to DriveGuard, a mobile-based driving hazard warning application that emphasizes early intervention before risky behavior escalates.

One of the developers, Major Nguyen Quang Nam from Thanh Mieu Ward Police in the northern province of Phu Tho said the idea emerged from daily work investigating crashes linked to phone use.

Instead of external devices or complex cameras, DriveGuard turns the smartphone into a safety tool. The app analyzes built-in sensor data such as speed, device tilt, call activity, network use, GPS and signal changes to detect risk when drivers use phones.

Its modular design allows flexible detection of risky behaviors and supports future expansion. When it detects danger, the app prioritizes timely warnings and reminders rather than restrictive controls, helping drivers adjust behavior in critical moments.

Innovation contest for road safety

The Vietnam Traffic Safety Innovation 2025 contest ran nationwide from October to December 2025 to promote voluntary compliance with traffic laws and highlight urgent safety concerns.

The program invited individuals and groups to propose practical solutions to reduce accidents and improve road safety. Participants ranged from students and civil servants to officers, engineers and workers.

Nearly 600 entries competed with strong participation from students and young people. Submissions included AI- and IoT-based solutions, warning devices and software, alongside education, communication and policy proposals.

After multiple review rounds, judges awarded 19 entries, including one first prize, one second prize, one third prize and several consolation prizes. Total prize money reached VND255 million ($9,840). Beyond awards, the contest linked ideas with real-world traffic safety needs.

At the closing ceremony last week, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said traffic order and safety remain a government priority, reflected in programs, resolutions and action plans.

Mobilizing social intellect and initiatives from citizens, organizations and businesses plays a key role in protecting lives, she said.

“We hope these ideas move into practice and spread across the community, raising awareness and improving traffic safety.”

Colonel Nguyen Quang Nhat, head of the Department for Guidance, Communication, Investigation and Traffic Accident Resolution under the Traffic Police Department and a judge, praised the finalists’ creativity and practicality.

He said many ideas, from high-tech tools to simple measures, could deliver tangible benefits with business support.

“The contest plants seeds for initiatives that improve traffic safety and support sustainable development,” he said.