iDREAMS
Smart Driver and Road Environment Assessment and Monitoring System.
Several factors of driver state negatively impact road safety, such as distraction (in-vehicle or external), fatigue and drowsiness, health concerns (e.g., illness, frailty, cognitive state) and extreme emotions (e.g., anxiety, stress, anger). Moreover, differences in socio-cultural factors are still among the main determinants of road risks. At the same time, technological developments make massive and detailed operator performance data easily available. 
The objective of this project is to set up a framework for the definition, development, testing and validation of a context-aware ‘Safety Tolerance Zone’ for driving, within a smart Driver, Vehicle & Environment Assessment and Monitoring System (iDREAMS). Taking into account, on the one hand, driver background factors and real-time risk indicators, and on the other hand, driving task complexity indicators, a continuous real-time assessment was made to monitor and determine if a driver is within acceptable boundaries of safe operation (i.e., Safety
Tolerance Zone). Moreover, safety-oriented interventions were developed. The iDREAMS platform will offer a series of in-vehicle interventions, meant to prevent drivers from getting too close to the boundaries of unsafe operations and to bring them back into the safety tolerance zone while driving. The iDREAMS platform also allows the implementation of two post-trip interventions, meant to motivate and enable human operators to develop the appropriate safety-oriented attitude.
The project consortium consists of 13 partners including researchers as well as industry partners, from eight different countries. It is a 3-year project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Check some of the key project outputs below!
- Policy brief "Safety Tolerance Zone" (2020): Written by POLIS, this brief highlights how the original concept of the i-DREAMS "Safety Tolerance Zone" offers a compelling approach to redefining and advancing road safety technology. It addresses the need to break the ongoing cycle of road injuries, while also promoting awareness of climate change and eco-efficiency. The concept further provides insights into tackling the challenges of road stress and road rage. You can read it here.
- Policy brief "I Dream of Zero: enabling public fleets to lead by example - right now" (2022): Authored by POLIS, it explores how effective strategy and leadership can drive lasting changes in traffic behaviour. The brief highlights the pivotal role of local and regional authorities in shaping the conditions that influence how people travel. You can access it here.
- Policy brief “How’s my Driving? How Corporate Social Responsibility can support Road Safety, and how Road Safety can improve the Transport Business" (2023): Written by POLIS, this piece examines how, for decades, many companies have relied on the simplistic “How’s my driving?” stickers and complaint hotlines as their primary approach to road safety. It reflects on the limitations of this traditional method and the need for more proactive, data-driven solutions. Read it here!
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