A new pilot initiative featuring an innovative “smart bumper sticker” aims to reduce tailgating and rear-end crashes on Queensland roads. The Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) has partnered with iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to develop and test this cutting-edge technology.
The smart bumper sticker is a low-cost, intelligent device mounted on the back of vehicles. Using sensors, it detects unsafe following distances and displays real-time messages to alert drivers who are tailgating. By addressing tailgating behaviours in the moment, the technology encourages safer driving and aims to reduce the frequency of rear-end collisions—the most common crash type on Queensland roads.
Rear-end crashes are a significant issue for Queensland’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme. These crashes account for 50% of new claims, with $1.8 billion in finalised claims paid over a recent five-year period for injuries caused by such incidents. Tailgating, a leading cause of these crashes, is often linked to three key factors: lack of effective enforcement, limited awareness of safe following distances, and the absence of real-time interventions to influence driver behaviour.
The smart bumper sticker directly tackles these challenges. By delivering immediate feedback to tailgating drivers, it offers an innovative approach to shifting behaviour and improving road safety.
The pilot program will run for an initial 12-month period, with the smart bumper stickers installed on fleet vehicles to maximise road exposure and collect extensive data. The findings will help evaluate the effectiveness of this technology in reducing tailgating and rear-end crashes.
MAIC and its partners are excited about the potential of the smart bumper sticker to make Queensland roads safer and look forward to sharing the outcomes of this groundbreaking initiative.