ROADSAGE: New taxi signage device displays cabbies’ availability
Updated: Sep 18, 2021
A new technology company based in Glasgow have created a clever product which can safely display a taxi’s availability and relay other messages to motorists and customers.
Unitic is a technology company based in Glasgow with the vision to make roads safer by delivering innovative products.
The company behind the tech, Unitic, was founded in early 2020 and started its journey by first developing its new product ‘RoadSage’, which turns the rear- windshield of a taxi into a transparent display.
The smart device could for the first time in many cities, display a ‘For Hire’ message to alert passengers of the taxi’s availability. It could also display the names of pre -booked passengers, doing away with the need for name boards.
When driving, the device can be used to autonomously warn tailgaters to maintain a safe distance and display other simple messages.
Whenever a vehicle comes too close to a car installed with RoadSage, it can autonomously display a ‘’Maintain Safe Distance’’ warning sign, which is visible from up to 40metres away and causes no rear-view obstruction to the driver.
The device is a transparent display that uses a long- range LiDAR sensor to calculate the speed of the vehicle behind and displays warnings encouraging the ‘’2-second rule’’, requiring no attention from the driver who is free to concentrate fully on the road ahead.
The device can be controlled via voice commands to a user-friendly mobile app (with support for Siri & Google Assistant) along with a wireless remote that easily attaches to the steering wheel.
RoadSage is currently being developed in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University and under the guidance of many other renowned organisations like Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise & Business and IP Centre.
Tailgating-related accidents costs the UK-economy hundreds of millions every year and accounts for a high number of serious injuries on UK roads.
In data collected by Highways England it suggests that tailgating is mostly unintentional, by drivers who do not realise they are invading someone else's safe driving space. The Unitic team also carried out on road testing and the results were surprisingly similar, concluding that tailgating can be avoided if brought to attention before it happens.
The Unitic team believes that due to the amount of time spent behind the wheel driving, taxi drivers are one of the most vulnerable groups to encounter tailgating and road rage.
Prathamesh Deshmukh (also known as Shree), Unitic Chief Executive Office, said: “Tailgaters need to understand that they will not get to their destination any faster, nor does it make them a skilled driver, they are only putting innocent lives at risks.”
Aamir Khan, Chief Operations & Marketing Officer, said: “Tailgating plays a huge role in rear-end crashes and road rage. With RoadSage, the lives of people on road would be much better and safer.”
Adesh Thakur, Chief Technical Officer, said: “We hope to increase communication between cars and de- escalate road rage. Having a voice controlled mobile app and a wireless remote would ensure that drivers don’t get distracted.”
The Glasgow based firm is ensuring that RoadSage is designed to comply with the UK road regulations and is in constant touch with the Department for Transport (DfT), Road Policing Department and Vehicles Certification Agency.
RoadSage is currently under development and is expected to be available for pre-order by mid-2022.
