ComfortDelGro experiments with ‘third eye’ for taxi drivers

SINGAPORE — ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, announced today (Aug 18) that it is assessing a new in-vehicle smart camera that can alert cab drivers to potentially dangerous road situations.

The 38° wide-angle smart camera, known as Mobileye, will be trialled in 30 ComfortDelGro taxis for the next six months. It will be installed on the front windshield of the taxi, and will “read” different types of traffic signs while the vehicle is in motion. It then determines the risks associated with the surrounding traffic environment and provides real-time audio-visual warnings via a 49mm round-shaped display unit to drivers.

For example, if the unit detects that the taxi is travelling too close to another vehicle or a pedestrian, it will alert the cabby with a beep sound and flash an icon of a car or pedestrian.

Mr Yang Ban Seng, CEO of ComfortDelGro’s taxi business, said: “This device acts as another ‘eye’ for our cabbies, who spend a large part of their days and nights on the roads. Mobileye’s ability to alert our drivers of potentially risky road conditions will certainly help prevent accidents.”

Mr Pek Ban Choong, a ComfortDelGro veteran cabby of 21 years, agreed. “I believe this device will help me look out for dangers on the road. I will still need to be 100 per cent aware of my surroundings, but it is always good to have added help,” he said. CHANNEL NEWSASIA