An innovative idea that can catapult the automotive sector and enhance safety from mishaps
In an inventive effort of a person who really cares about people’s lives had presented an innovative idea for reigning in the automotive accidents and road mishaps, especially at night while crossing the road or rail tracks, which we Indians are habitual of. Also, it can help reduce head-on collision by a considerable amount, if implemented.
Vilas Janardan Karve, who is an ex-serviceman and was employed in the transport department, Mumbai, when speaking exclusively to LED World, shared an interesting story of how he thinks and developed an idea, which he also tried to share and propose to the concerned authority, but didn’t succeed.
According to him, if his proposal is accepted, proper use of the advantages of LED lights can considerably bring down the accidents or vehicle mishaps. “The LED lights so developed, especially for commercial vehicles, can help detecting the speed of the vehicles from far thus alerting the one coming from opposite direction to keep safe, while the one overtaking can get an idea if he can succeed in his efforts,” said Karve.
He highlighted that this can help avoid accidents as those following the vehicle can brake well in advance. “Drawing attention to his own study that proper lighting gives the driver few metres extra distance for implying brakes. So, if implemented in suggested format, would help decrease the rate of accidents and the accident, if it does take place, would be less severe,” he mentioned.
Stressing upon the need for proper lighting, Karve added that we should make good use of advanced technologies like these as they would considerably cut down the rate of mortality over roads and rail tracks owing to frequent accidents. “The vision is to introduce the technology of tomorrow for the life of today on Indian roads. I believe that we should first have proper tools in the form of lighting before talking about other important safety features,” he said.
Karve, while sharing his pain, said that he is striving to share this idea with both state and central government for not less than five years, but couldn’t succeed yet. When we interfered as why he can’t file a patent for the same to enjoy royalty if implemented in near future, he lamented that the cost of filing and getting patent is Rs. 2 lakh which is not his cup of tea. He feared that sharing such innovative idea with media may lose his credibility, but being conscious he mentioned that the matter is very important and needed a limelight without any further delay.
Here is the letter with which he tried approaching the government and transport agencies and to those responsible and can dare introduce such technology. The letter reads as:
Dear Sirs,
Subject: Innovation – to reduce accident at night, new type of speedometer should be introduced for night driving for Cars, Buses, Commercial Vehicles, Four Wheelers, LRVs & Trams, Locomotive, EMU, DMU and High Speed Marin Crafts.
At Bus Exhibition in Mumbai on 2.2.2013, I had given the proposal of this new item to automotive organisations for their consideration. On 12.2.2013, I have sent this proposal in detail to two organisations, followed by a reminder on 1st March 2013, but no reply received from them yet.
This will be useful for Four Wheelers i.e., Cars, Buses, Light Vehicles, Heavy Vehicles and Multi Wheelers i.e. Tractors, Trailers, etc., if it is installed at both front and rear side of the vehicles. Majority of drivers, whom I met in person to know their views, are of the opinion that this will be very useful especially for overtaking vehicles at night especially on roads over which two-way traffic operates, without barriers. Even if one is exporting vehicles, LRV and Trams etc. to developing countries, then also this will be useful. Concept can be further extended to two wheelers and three wheelers also.
Details of item:
While driving at night, it is difficult to judge the speed of the vehicle approaching both for pedestrians and for drivers of other vehicles. To get a clear idea about the approximate speed by pedestrians as well as drivers of other vehicles, new type of SPEEDO METER in the form of LED LIGHT STRIP should be made.
There will be two strips, one at the Front and another at Rear of vehicle. It should be in the form of one LED strip lamps for each 10 Km/hr. of speed. Let us assume, the speed of the vehicle is 60 Km/hr., then 6 LED lamps will be illuminated and if speed is reduced to 40 Km/hr., then 4 LED lamps will be illuminated. Likewise, if speed is increased to 80 Km/hr., then 8 LED lamps will be illuminated. This LED strip will be at the top of the driver’s cabin (outside) and can be seen by the drivers of vehicle coming from the opposite direction as well as pedestrians.
This idea will help immediately noticing over speeding. Vehicle will be safe from “Drunken Drivers” of the following vehicle thereby safety of the vehicles will increase up to certain extent. When spoken to a traffic inspector in Mumbai, he out rightly said that it would help us a lot and also once this technology is implemented, we can stop importing equipment (speed gun) from foreign countries.
Strip at the rear will be seen by the driver of following vehicle who can estimate the speed and drive is vehicle safely. While overtaking the vehicle at night, it is difficult to estimate the speed of the vehicle coming from opposite direction. In such situation, if this technology is implemented, it will make it easier for driver to decide whether to overtake vehicle or not. Same way pedestrians can also take a decision to cross the road or not. LED lamps will be of different colours as decided by Regional Transport Office as with those colours, estimated speed will be judged easily.
Most of the drivers have accepted this proposal and have opinion that it will be very useful for them at night driving. This will reduce accidents.
How this will be helpful in various transportation systems?
FOR ROAD TRANSPORTAION: This item will be useful for drivers of other vehicles for driving at night and pedestrians for road crossing at night as it will show the approx. speed of the vehicle on which it is installed.
For LRVs and Trams: This will be useful for the drivers of other vehicle for driving at night and pedestrians for road crossing at night as it will show the approx. speed of LRVs and Trams on which it is installed. As LRVs and Trams move in the city traffic.
FOR RAIL TRANSPORT: This will be useful for pedestrians for crossing at railway tracks at night as they can get an idea about the approx. speed of Locomotive, EMU and DMU on which it is installed.
FOR SEA TRANSPORT: In sea, for high speed of the crafts will be seen by crew of the other ships/ crafts from a distance to decide if the speed is slowed down, at night.
Overall this will reduce accident at night. The shape, size and colour of LED lamps to be used for the purpose will have to be decided by the Regional Transport Authorities/Offices, considering the local climate conditions.
After it is approved by the concerned authority, if any automobile manufacturer produces and implements such LED lamps, then I must be made entitled to get a royalty or remuneration of at least 2% of the sale of the LED lamps used for the purpose.
I have not patented this because of monetary limitations. I had made this idea open for all and details have been already shared with few LED lamps manufacturers.
Latest modification suggested: Front speedometer, only precaution to be taken that it must be installed outside the vehicle and not inside the cabin of the driver (as shown with the help of an illustration below) thus it will not disturb the vision of the driver. For rear side, the speedometer should be at the level of tail lamps. It can be changed according to the circumstances.
Hope to get an early reply from you.
Yours faithfully
Vilas Janardan Karve
A-4-19, BEST Rajhansa Society
Near Ghatkopar Bus Depot, Ghatkopar (East)
Mumbai – 400 075
Karve can be reached at M: +91 99691 45208 / 98694 01957
Email: vilasjanardankarve@gmail.com
