A groundbreaking smart car device named “SafeDrive” was introduced on Thursday, transforming ordinary vehicles into “safe, smart, and connected” cars. Developed and manufactured by Elsys Intelligent Devices, a former startup incubated by the Kerala Startup Mission, this user-friendly gadget is compatible with the majority of cars in India.
SafeDrive is equipped with crash sensors, a GPS module, a microphone, a speaker, and cellular connectivity. It features an “In-Vehicle Emergency Call” function that automatically notifies the emergency center in the event of a severe collision. This notification occurs even when the individuals involved are unable to respond due to injury or shock.
During the launch of the device, Kerala Police Chief Loknath Behera emphasized the need for awareness and increased innovation in vehicular safety. He highlighted the alarming statistic that approximately 2,000 lives were lost in accidents on the state’s roads in the first half of the current year. Behera stressed that while the Kerala Police would enforce traffic safety rules, society shares a collective responsibility to prevent accidents, stating, “A driving license is not a license to kill.”
In the event of a significant impact, SafeDrive initiates a voice call and sends essential data, including the precise location of the incident and the vehicle’s speed, to the emergency center. This enables the center to assess the situation, communicate with the victims, inform their family or friends, and coordinate emergency assistance.
Additional features of SafeDrive include a one-touch assistance button, hands-free two-way calling, live vehicle tracking, trip history, smart alerts, roadside assistance, and driving analysis with a score. Prasad Pillai, the co-founder and CEO of Elsys, described SafeDrive as an Indian solution to a global concern. As the automobile industry moves towards connected and self-driving cars, SafeDrive is building a network of emergency and essential services that all existing and future cars can connect to. The company has already established a network of over 3,500 road-emergency service providers across India and is actively collaborating with automobile manufacturers, insurance providers, road transport entities, and law enforcement agencies to extend this network to as many people as possible.