TRUST Project Launched to Boost Road Safety in Thailand

On the same day, a of BMA, UNH, AIT, TMT and TMF was held to formalize the collaboration among the key stakeholders in advancing road safety initiatives. The event was attended by Bangkok Governor - Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Chief of UN-Habitat Multi-Country Office - Mr. Srinivasa Popuri, Vice President of Asian Institute of Technology - Professor Manukid Parnichkun, and Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. - Mr. Surapoom Udomwong, and Director of Toyota Mobility Foundation - Mr. Susumu Matsuda, This partnership symbolize a significant step forward in utilizing technology and data-driven solutions to analyze the road accident and driving behavior to enhance road safety in Thailand.

The TRUST project is rooted in Toyota's global commitment to road safety and is part of a practical initiative that originated from the Tateshina Meeting*1 organized by Toyota in Japan. At this annual meeting, Toyota and leaders from various industries discuss safety initiatives and joint activities to achieve zero road casualties worldwide.

Given the per capita accident ratio, and Toyota's commitment to being Best in Town in Thailand, TMF initiated a multi-phased project to address road safety challenges through collaborative activities with multiple stakeholders. This project employs data-driven analysis to identify the root causes of accidents and enhance road safety based on a three-element approach: people, vehicles, and road infrastructure.

Key Initiative

Pilot Phase 1: (Term April '24 - June '25) The initial phase of the project was conducted in Chachoengsao Province by TMF in partnership with the AIT. This phase utilized probe data from Toyota vehicles to identify high-risk accident zones and unsafe driving behaviors. Five locations in Phanom Sarakham and Mueang Districts were analyzed. The findings indicated that vehicle probe data can identify high-risk locations from sudden braking points and analyze driving behaviors such as sudden acceleration and sharp steering. However, as the initial analysis primarily covered four-wheeled vehicles, and a significant portion of Thailand's accidents involve motorcycles, TMF would like to extend the dataset in the phase 2 for a more comprehensive analysis.

Phase 2: (May '25 - Apr '27) Phase 2 is set to expand the usage its data sources and collaboration network to be more comprehensive and test more advanced data analytics. The initiative will focus on the Chatuchak District in Bangkok, a higher accident-risk area with heavy traffic, but with comprehensive CCTV coverage. Road Accident Victims Protection Co.,Ltd. (RVP) will support by providing accident data to increase the efficiency of analysis for further development of road safety management.

Key Collaboration Partners and Contributions The success of the TRUST Project relies on contributions from multiple stakeholders. The partners and their roles are as follows:

• Bangkok Metropolitan Administration - Data access, CCTV footage, and implementation of safety measures. Championing the entire project.
• UN-Habitat - Capacity building, global networking, and insights from international safety initiatives.
• Asian Institute of Technology - Project management and technical contribution, accident and risk behavior analytics, and oversight.
• Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd. - Provision of probe data and expertise from the White Road Project on Road Safety
• Toyota Mobility Foundation - Project funding and technological support, including introduction of AI-driven analysis of probe data, near-miss and incident data.

Support from data partners ;

• Road Accident Victims Protection Co.,Ltd. - support on the historical road accidents data.

Project Timeline and Future Expansion The TRUST Project will be implemented from May 2025 to April 2027 (2.0 years). The project aims to develop a scalable model for accident prevention, which can be expanded across Bangkok and other provinces. The insights and successes from TRUST will also be shared at international forums to contribute to global road safety advancements.

Director of Toyota Mobility Foundation, Mr. Susumu Matsuda expressed, "We are excited to announce the launch of the TRUST project, which aims to reduce traffic accidents in Thailand. By utilizing vehicle probe data and advanced analytics, we strive to create a safer and more comfortable road environment in Bangkok. Our vision is to eventually expand this model to other regions in Thailand. Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero traffic accident casualties through collaboration and innovative solutions."

Bangkok Governor, Dr.Chadchart Sittipunt expressed, "Road safety is a crucial issue for Bangkok, and we must take decisive action to reduce accidents and save lives. Lowering speed limits, promoting helmet use among motorcyclists, and improving road conditions are key steps in making our roads safe. These measures align with global standards and reflect our commitment to protecting all road users."

"Beyond policies, we are also enhancing infrastructure, improving pedestrian crossings, and leveraging technology for better traffic enforcement. Creating a culture of road safety requires cooperation from all parties, including government authorities, drivers, and pedestrians. Together, we can make Bangkok a safer and more livable city for all."

Chief, UN-Habitat Multi Country Program Office, Regional Office of Asia and The Pacific, UN-Habitat Mr. Srinivasa Popuri expressed "Cities need to urgently accelerate their efforts on road safety. At UN-Habitat, we believe that leveraging data-driven solutions and collaborative partnerships is key to making cities safer and more inclusive."

Director of Thailand Accident Research Center of AIT, Professor Kunnawee Kanitpong expressed "From the first phase of operations in the Chachoengsao area, probe data from vehicles and AI technology were used to collect and analyze accident causes in addition to the usual methods used by Traffic Accident (RC - EXPAND). We found some advantages that helped our work to be more accurate, such as the amount of data covering a longer period, while human data collection might only be for a certain period and reduce bias from human analysis. It provided traffic information, including speed, vehicle volume, vehicle types, and traffic conflicts. However, there are still challenges in collecting this data, such as costs, knowledge of data users, and in this phase, we still lack data on motorcycle drivers

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