Hanam City Installs Nation's First Smart Accident Prevention System on Bicycle Path

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) announced on August 4 that it has installed the nation's first smart accident risk prevention system at the entrance of the Dangjeongddeul bicycle path (244 Sinjang-dong) to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and began full-scale operation of the system on July 30.

Hanam City has installed and is operating the nation's first smart accident risk prevention system at the entrance of the Dangjeongteul bicycle path (244 Sinjang-dong) to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Photo by Hanam City

This section features a structure where the pedestrian walkway and the bicycle path intersect, and in particular, part of the bicycle path is a downhill slope, which has consistently posed an increased risk of accidents due to higher speeds.

To address these accident-prone areas, the city has introduced AI video detection sensors and a warning system, providing an intelligent safety device capable of detecting and preventing accidents in advance. Specifically, AI video detection sensors have been installed on the downhill section of the bicycle path, while electronic display boards, warning lights, and speakers have been placed slightly ahead of the intersection. This allows cyclists and pedestrians to visually and audibly detect each other's approach in advance and prepare for potential accidents.

Notably, the smart warning system?applied for the first time in the country?enables the electronic display board, which typically shows bicycle path safety rules and forward caution notices, to broadcast real-time footage when a bicycle traveling at over 10 km/h is detected by the AI video sensor. This allows other users to immediately recognize the situation.

This smart system serves as a model case of using technology to address the structural challenges of urban bicycle paths with high simultaneous usage by cyclists and pedestrians. Hanam City plans to gradually expand the installation of this system to other accident-prone sections within the city in the future.

Mayor Lee Hyunjae stated, "As bicycle usage increases, so does the risk of accidents. We expect that this smart system, introduced for the first time in the nation, will play a significant role in protecting the lives and safety of our citizens." He added, "We will continue to strengthen our safety infrastructure so that Hanam City can advance as a bicycle-friendly city."