IBM this week unveiled the Road Buddy app for mobile devices as part of its global entrepreneur programme.
According to the technology company, the app is intended to address the growing need for a more proactive approach to road safety for road users.
There are two types of users for the app - the receivers and transmitters. The receivers are all types of motorists and the transmitters consist of pedestrians, joggers, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Road Buddy is a cloud-based mobile solution built on the backbone of IBM's Softlayer cloud infrastructure designed to improve the awareness of motorists, warning them of vulnerable road users (transmitters) in their immediate vicinity.
Vulnerable road users simply activate the Road Buddy app when they are on the road and motorists using the app will receive accurate advanced verbal warning of the approaching road users.
This will give the motorists advanced warning of the specific type of road user approaching, helping to potentially avoid an accident, said the brain behind the app, local entrepreneur Werner van der Westhuizen.
It also has an SOS feature that gives the user the opportunity to send out an SOS message of their choice to any number of contacts, informing them of the user's precise location.
The user's physical location will be sent via SMS or e-mail with a Google Maps link to assist with locating the person in need.
Speaking during the unveiling, Mawethu Vilani, acting director general of department of transport, said at least 40% of all fatalities and injuries are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, making them the most vulnerable road users.
"Road Buddy is a revolutionary app that is going to help us deal with issues around road accidents. We support and endorse the app - its ability to help interaction between motorists and other road users will help save lives," said Vilani.
Gary Roland, independent road safety consultant, said statistics in SA show that 10 845 road accidents are fatal and result in a R307 billion estimated cost to the economy per annum. Without action, road traffic accidents are predicted to result in the deaths of around 1.9 million people annually by 2020.
Based on the assumption that it's taken up, the potential the app has for saving lives can be compared to that of a seatbelt. It will be one of the things that will help reduce road injuries and death statistics, he added.
"We decided to partner with IBM, via the entrepreneur programme, to bring this new technology to market and support the ambition to take this global. The opportunity exists to save lives and that's totally invaluable. If by using this app we all become a little more aware, a little safer then we have succeeded." said Van der Westhuizen.
In addition to the Road Buddy smartphone app, a Road Buddy hardware unit will be made available for people without smartphones.
This device will be suited for developing countries and will work the same way as the app. It will send or receives warnings and can be placed permanently in vehicles. The hardware units will also communicate with the Road Buddy smartphone app - increasing functionality, said Van der Westhuizen.
Road Buddy was designed by Van der Westhuizen in collaboration with engineers at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and developed by Blue Line software designers.
It is available to download free on Apple and Android platforms and is available in multiple language options for users across the globe.
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