The Coimbatore City Police and non-governmental organisation ‘Uyir’ are joining hands to integrate artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart solutions to improve road safety in the city.

The solutions, which are going to be implemented on a pilot basis, are from the projects that were shortlisted in the Uyir Road Safety Hackathon 2025 held earlier this year.

One of the pilot projects involves the use of an AI-based technology that will enhance safety of people at pedestrian crossings. The police and Uyir have decided to test the project on a pedestrian crossing in front of PSGR Krishnammal College for Women on Avinashi Road at Peelamedu. A pelican signal is functional at the place at present, which allows pedestrians to operate the red signal for 30 seconds to cross the busy road. Once activated, the red light signal can be activated again after a gap of three minutes.

“The idea is to integrate AI into the existing arrangement so that the system will detect the number of people waiting to cross the road and operate the signal on its own. If proved successful, it can be integrated in traffic signals for automated operation,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S. Ashok Kumar.

The second pilot project the police and Uyir aim to launch is an AI-powered intelligent driver monitoring system that can be used for real-time driver behaviour analysis. This system will be fixed on an omni bus on a trial basis.

The AI-based system will monitor the behaviour of the driver and detect if he or she falls asleep while driving, uses mobile phone at the wheel or lacks focus, said Mr. Kumar.

An automated road hazard reporting and management system fitted on buses, which detects potholes or debris, and a real-time accident detection system that detects accidents and notify relevant emergency services are among other shortlisted projects from Uyir Road Safety Hackathon 2025, which the police plans to test in a phased manner.