IMPROVED SAFETY FOR VULNERABLE ROAD USERS MEANS

Road safety is crucial for the development of sustainable cities and communities. Recently, e-scooters have become a popular micro-mobility option; however, the shared road space between e-scooters and vehicles of varying speeds and sizes has led to numerous safety incidents. This thesis addresses these safety concerns by developing a system that uses radar technology and Arduino microcontrollers to detect approaching vehicles on scooter bikes. The radar sensor collects distance data from nearby vehicles or obstacles, which is then processed locally to determine their presence and speed. The system provides real-time feedback to the rider, displaying vital information such as the distance, speed, and relative location (ahead or behind) of approaching vehicles. An alarm system is activated for enhanced safety if the detected distance and speed indicate an imminent collision risk. This comprehensive approach aims to improve riders' situational awareness, allowing them to respond promptly to potential hazards, thus promoting the mobility-as-a-service paradigm. The collected data is analyzed across different road segments to identify areas with higher traffic incident risks. Validation is performed to assess the accuracy of distance and speed measurements at various intervals. The thesis also discusses several limitations, offers recommendations for improvement, and shares lessons learned for future research and development.