Smart Car Accident Detection and Emergency Alert System Using GPS and GSM

Abstract

Road traffic accidents remain a major public health challenge globally, causing over 1.35 million deaths and tens of millions of injuries annually. A critical factor contributing to high mortality rates is the delayed arrival of emergency services, often exacerbated by ineffective or delayed accident reporting mechanisms. In recent years, the advancement of embedded systems, sensor technology, and wireless communication has paved the way for automated accident detection and notification systems that can significantly reduce emergency response times. This study proposes a smart car accident detection and emergency alert system that employs a combination of impact sensors, global positioning system (GPS), and global system for mobile communications (GSM) technologies to detect collisions automatically, determine precise vehicle location, and dispatch real-time alerts to emergency responders and preset contacts. The system is designed to be cost-effective, scalable, and adaptable to both modern and legacy vehicles, addressing current limitations such as false positives and GPS signal degradation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system reduces notification latency and enhances passenger safety, contributing toward improved post-accident outcomes. This integration of sensor data and communication technologies represents a promising approach in intelligent transportation systems aimed at reducing fatalities and improving emergency response efficacy.