Car Accident Detection and Alert System Leveraging Deep Learning

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to address the critical issue of car accidents through an advanced Accident Detection and Alerting System (ADAS) empowered by cutting-edge technologies in deep learning, computer vision, and communication APIs. With road safety being a paramount concern worldwide, timely detection of car accidents followed by swift alerting mechanisms can significantly reduce the severity of accidents and save lives. The proposed system architecture incorporates the Ultralytics framework, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8), OpenCV, and Twilio API. Initially, YOLOv8 is employed to perform real-time detection of vehicles and potential accident scenarios from live video feeds obtained from roadside cameras or vehicle-mounted cameras. Subsequently, CNN models are utilized for comprehensive analysis of detected objects to discern potential accidents based on predetermined criteria, including sudden deceleration, collision patterns, and anomalous vehicle movements. Upon successful detection of an accident, the system triggers an alert mechanism via the Twilio API, which delivers instantaneous notifications to emergency services, nearby medical facilities, and designated contacts of the involved parties. These alerts are enriched with crucial details such as the accident location, vehicle types involved, and severity assessments derived from CNN analyses. Furthermore, the integration of OpenCV facilitates preprocessing tasks such as noise reduction, image enhancement, and object tracking, thereby enhancing the system's robustness and accuracy in diverse environmental conditions and lighting scenarios. The proposed ADAS offers numerous benefits, including real-time accident detection, automated alerting of emergency services, and minimized response times, ultimately contributing to mitigating the severity of accidents and preserving lives. By harnessing the power of deep learning algorithms, advanced computer vision techniques, and seamless communication APIs, this system represents a significant step towards fostering safer road environments within smart cities and transportation networks.