The internet and fifth-generation communication tools have become increasingly popular in recent years. They offer better and more convenient flexibility for end users. Blockchain improves road safety, offering innovative solutions for traffic management and accident prevention.

In recent years, companies and service providers have adopted blockchain-based tools and services. More consumers and developers are looking to adopt Internet of Things and blockchain technology to address traditional problems and provide solutions.

In this short time, blockchain technology has been used in many ways. Research and development are increasingly focused on road safety and traffic management. Blockchain technology now helps authorities address various issues, from reckless driving to predicting collisions. It also helps improve road service and maintenance delivery.

An early motor vehicle traffic fatalities report of 2021 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projected that around 42,915 people died in motor vehicle collision crashes in 2021, an increase of 10.5% from the year before. This projection is based on the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

As the number of road users and drivers increases year by year, how will cities and local authorities ensure the safety of drivers on the road, while utilizing advanced communication tools and blockchain technology –  a world unexplored, and filled with potential.

Blockchain Technology in Road Safety

While blockchain technology was initially thought to grow alongside the likes of cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs, those developments have now branched out further into various new fields and industries. Blockchain improves road safety, providing innovative solutions for traffic management and accident prevention.

Not only has blockchain technology significantly reduced the cost of peer-to-peer transactions, but it’s also made it easier, more secure, accurate, and transparent.

According to PwC findings, blockchain technology now has the potential for application beyond cryptocurrency, digital assets, and finance. Instead, it’s looking to become more applicable in collaborative efforts to improve business processes, insurance transactions, fleet and supply chain management, and also road safety.

In the United States, with more than 222 million licensed drivers according to Statista, roughly 1 in 8 motorists had no form of automotive insurance in 2019, as the number of people in a car accident with no insurance has increased over the last few years, varying among states.

With lax driving tests, insufficient training, and around 12.6% of Americans that don’t have motor insurance, blockchain technology could perhaps prove to become a viable solution for road safety and management authorities.

Geolocation and Tracking

Geo-tagging and location tracking have been around for quite some time. They are at the heart of many companies that track and deliver services.

What’s more interesting is how geolocation and blockchain can work together. This collaboration could enable connected vehicles and autonomous tracking. Cars could interact with one another on the roads.

Geolocation also helps update traffic conditions. As more cars cluster in specific areas, it can send alerts or status updates. These updates could include weather conditions and accident reports.

Rapid Data and Information Exchange

Wireless technology, such as 5G and LTE, makes it easier to share large amounts of data between designated points.

When combined with blockchain technology, a new concept of data exchange emerges. For example, blockchain in vehicles or delivery trucks could quickly share information across multiple data points in a specific location.

More so, this could branch out even further, where authorities could monitor traffic volumes, driver behavior, and predictive patterns over several hours or days.

As systems become more integrated with driver behavior, we could create more accurate and predictive models to understand how collisions occur, what led up to the incident, and how quickly emergency information is shared across the area to connected points.

The idea here is to securely share necessary driver data with other connected vehicles and information points. With an increasing number of points, it could become easier to compile more accurate information to help improve road safety conditions and management where needed.

Road Management Predictive Models

As already discussed, data and information can provide more accurate insights into driver behavior. Blockchain technology could also help improve road conditions through its management capabilities.

With more accessible driver ledgers and information sets read into the blockchain, road management authorities can improve their planning and maintenance efforts.

This could lead to more accurate predictive models, helping authorities better understand where improvements are needed and where unlicensed drivers need more assistance during their training.

These capabilities will become the blueprint from which authorities could map and plan their cities and streets. It would help them become more connected with motorists, and enable them to predict more accurately without needing traditional data sets to provide them with insights.

Information Privacy

A major part of what makes blockchain valuable is its ability to safely transport information in secure, decentralized ledgers, away from public scrutiny.

Blockchain can be used in many ways, though it could potentially lead to malicious activity. However, these cases are still rare. Blockchain improves driver safety by ensuring privacy and information security, helping avoid data breaches by third parties.

Blockchain allows users to transact on the same network, but security protocols mean that connected vehicles can be safer and more private. Additionally, location tracking and movement can be safely captured and stored without interference from third parties.

Motor Vehicle Maintenance

Blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help compile more accurate data and ensure driver information safety. It could also become a model for vehicle maintenance.

Blockchain can monitor a vehicle’s health, run diagnostics on different parts, and track performance. Blockchain improves road safety by ensuring vehicles are properly maintained and identifying potential issues before they become hazards. It could also predict when a car is due for service.

This would make vehicles safer and more efficient. It could also extend the lifecycle of some vehicles and improve roadworthiness.

The technology can determine if cars are still fit for the road and what improvements are needed to keep them roadworthy. This would lower maintenance costs for drivers and help vehicles operate more economically.

Looking Forward

While blockchain technology offers endless possibilities, it presents innovative solutions for systems still using primitive technology and software.

In road and motorist safety, blockchain could increase motor vehicle connectivity, geolocation, tracking, and improve vehicle maintenance. These efforts would enhance overall driver safety. Over time, they could create more accurate and predictive models for road management and safety.

Blockchain, while powerful on its own, benefits from collaboration with 5G, IoT, and Software as a Service. Blockchain improves road safety by offering secure and efficient solutions for traffic management and accident prevention. These capabilities depend on continued innovation by private and public entities focused on improving safety on American roads.