Smart Highway That Prevents Vehicle Fires

The corporation, which runs South Korean toll roads, announced on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Tracking Association and the National Charter Bus Association to share an ‘overheated vehicle’ detection system. (Image: Kobiz Media)

SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Expressway Corporation will collaborate with other traffic organizations to expand road fire accident prevention systems at tunnels across the country.

The corporation, which runs South Korean toll roads, announced on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Tracking Association and the National Charter Bus Association to share an ‘overheated vehicle’ detection system.

The organizations are hopeful that the data gathered from the system will help curb vehicle fires, as it will be used to advise select drivers to bring their vehicle to a service center.

When complete, the vehicle overheating prevention system will detect cars with tire and engine temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius.

The overheating vehicle alarm system measures the temperature of cars driving on the highway using thermal imaging cameras, and warns drivers of overheated vehicles to take shelter in a safe space via variable message signs (VMS).

The system will also collect data on the temperature of the vehicle and the car plate number, which will then be sent to the appropriate government authorities.

After trialing a similar system at Inje Yangyang Tunnel last June, the Korea Expressway Corporation plans to gradually expand the system to long tunnels across the country.

“To prevent vehicle fires on the highway, cooperation between traffic authorities and changing the perception of drivers are both important,” said Lee Kang-rae, President of the Korea Expressway Corp.

“For this MOU to come to fruition, we will put our best efforts into technology development and improve road traffic safety,” Lee added.

M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)