Coventry road safety boosted by AI
New AI road sensors reduce near misses at a Coventry junction by more than 88 percent
Last updated 19th Nov 2025
A Coventry junction has seen near misses between road users cut by over 88% due to new AI sensor technology.
The technology was used by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to analyse real-world near misses at the junction of Grange Road and Anderton Road in Longford and work out how these could be reduced.
It prompted Coventry City Council to install a pedestrian refuge using TfWM funding which has slowed down turning traffic and dramatically reduced the risk of collisions.
Speaking during National Road Safety Week, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many. That’s why I’m committed to Vision Zero – no more deaths on our roads.
"We need to use every tool available to make journeys safer for everyone and this new AI technology is helping us prevent collisions before they happen.
“Coventry is leading the way as the first place to roll out new safety measures that have been guided by AI. The results show how this technology really can improve safety and save lives.”
Average vehicle speeds where a near miss has been recorded at the junction have fallen from 14-16mph to 10.5-12.5mph while the refuge has stopped drivers cutting the corner when turning into Anderton Road from Grange Road.
The AI-powered vision sensors work by detecting and recording near misses, such as when a vehicle passes within inches of a slower moving pedestrian or cyclist. This means potential collision hot spots can be identified before someone is actually hurt.
Traditionally, highway authorities had to use data from actual collisions to identify safety issues, meaning someone generally had to be hurt – or worse – before a danger hotspot could be pinpointed.
At Grange Road, sensor footage from before the refuge was installed showed vehicles stopping just inches from people crossing the road – including a mother with a child in a pushchair and a dog walker.
It is one of 40 sensors installed at junctions across the region as part of a pilot to assess the technology.
Cllr Patricia Hetherton, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for city services, said: “Coventry is proud to be at the forefront of road safety innovation. Slowing turning traffic and protecting pedestrians and cyclists shows how technology, funding from West Midlands Combined Authority, and local action can work together to save lives and make our streets safer for everyone.”
Vision Zero, is the long-term West Midlands Combined Authority mission where nobody is killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads. By 2030, the aim is to have halved the number of road deaths and serious injuries.