Transportation ministry highlights ai's role in enhancing road safety with over 95% accuracy in detecting driver fatigue and distraction

The Ministry of Transport of China highlighted during a press conference on August 20 that artificial intelligence (AI) is being effectively integrated into transportation systems to improve road safety. According to Xu Wenqiang, Director of the Ministry's Science and Technology Department, AI is becoming a core technological engine for the 'One Network, Four Modernizations' initiative, which aims to drive high-quality development in the transportation sector. The initiative focuses on real-world applications rather than theoretical concepts, with specific scenarios designed to address key challenges in the industry. One key area of focus is the promotion of data integration to enhance transportation integration. The Ministry identified issues such as fragmented data across different transport modes as major obstacles to integration. To address this, the initiative includes scenarios like 'Smart Multimodal Transport' and 'Smart Operation of Comprehensive Hubs'. For example, the Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi uses AI to integrate data on ship arrivals, train schedules, and road logistics, optimizing container storage and truck routes. This has reduced the time containers spend in transit by over 20%. Another priority is the transformation of safety practices through AI. Traditional methods relied heavily on post-incident investigations and manual inspections, which were costly and reactive. The Ministry emphasized a shift towards proactive safety measures using AI, such as vehicle active safety warning systems. These systems can detect driver fatigue and distraction with an accuracy rate of over 95%, enabling timely interventions. The initiative also aims to drive digital transformation across the entire transportation system. AI is being used to modernize infrastructure, equipment, services, control, and management. Projects like intelligent approval for large-scale freight in Yunnan and Fujian have automated processes, reducing approval times from an average of seven working days to within 24 hours. In high-frequency scenarios, approvals can be processed instantly, with manual verification workload reduced by over 70%. Finally, the Ministry emphasized AI's role in promoting green transformation through cost efficiency and resource optimization. For instance, Qingdao Port's automated terminal uses AI to dynamically optimize crane operations and truck routes, reducing idle time and energy consumption. This has led to a 15% reduction in energy use per container compared to traditional ports. The 'One Network, Four Modernizations' initiative is a central theme for China's transportation sector during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026–2030). Its goal is to build a modern, high-quality integrated transportation network, with the 'Four Modernizations' focusing on integration, safety, digital transformation, and green transition.