ZCZC
BSS-23
APP-SAFE-DRIVE
Govt moves to launch `Safe Drive’ app to avert accident
DHAKA, Sept 15, 2020 (BSS) – The government in collaboration with a
private sector automotive maintenance startup, Zantrik, has developed an
artificial intelligence (AI)-based app `Safe Drive’ to avert accident on the
roads.
Leveraging ICT project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT
Division has aided Zantrik to develop the app which can monitor a driver’s
real time driving behavior, said a press release.
The LICT project engaged National University of Singapore (NUS) as a
knowledge partner of this program to ensure quality of the AI -based ‘Safe
Drive’ app developed by Zantrik.
“The government has been encouraging private sector to come up with
frontier tech based-startup to address various problems that would benefit
the people and the country,” said ICT Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam.
He said developing AI-based Safe Drive app and its smooth functioning will
be a milestone development in the road communication sector at a time when
the government is desperately trying to reduce road accident.
According to Zantrik the app will also be able to observe a driver’s body
language, trajectory and build profile which can be used to identify
improvement suggestions and these data can also be analyzed and used by
research organizations, corporate, insurance and ride sharing companies,
vehicle manufacturers or even government.
Initially the solution is developed and deployed as a Smartphone app
mainly for individual vehicle owners, but for commercial use, a hardware
based version will also be developed in which case a device will be installed
within the vehicles which would perform the same action, it said. LICT
Project Director Md Rezaul Karim said road accident is a big concern not only
for Bangladesh, but also throughout the world. The AI-based `Safe Drive’ app
will reduce accidents on the roads to some extent, he said adding the app
developer Zantrik was selected through a competitive bidding process.
Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed said the government has been
making a partnership with the private sector for bringing many tech-based
innovative solutions and LICT project alone with private concern has been
developing AI-powered 10 prototypes for the betterment of the people.
There are reports that every year road accidents kill over 5000 people in
Bangladesh and one of the biggest reasons for these accidents is falling
asleep while driving, especially in the longer routes, he said.
According to Zantrik, the beta version of the Smartphone app is already
available at Google play, and it’s ready to be used by anyone driving a
vehicle, anywhere in the world. In later stages, more features will be added
to the app to make it more usable. The same app will be released at App Store
in upcoming months.
BSS/PR/KUC/FI/ 1608 hrs