Pretoria - A new technology, known as a SpeedFox device, which is fitted into a vehicle to limit its speed, has been hailed as a solution to the road carnage in the country.
SpeedFox inventor Geo Intelligence Corp (GeoInt) said the technology was designed to reduce speeding, accidents and mortality on the roads.
The technology, with its offline embedded map element, ensures that the vehicle cannot exceed the legally posted speed limit.
Funded by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) – an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation – SpeedFox has been piloted and commercially implemented with several South African companies that own large commercial fleets.
The agency said the initial funding would be used to further refine the development of the device by improving its accuracy and conducting market validation to achieve market fit.
Through the pilots, it was demonstrated that SpeedFox could improve safety by eliminating road speed limit infringements, which was independently verified through the vehicles’ telematics units.
It allows fleet operators to set speed limits for specific road types such as gravel roads, or steep gradient roads to ensure their vehicles are operating within set margins in compliance with traffic regulations.
The good news is that the device also saved significant costs across the fleets through reduction of accident damage and downtime, and up to 5% reduction in fuel consumption and the elimination of speeding fines.
Lee Annamalai, the chief technology officer at GeoInt, said: “Geo Intelligence Corp is the first company in South Africa to create a multipoint speed limiter that actively ensures the vehicle does not exceed any speed limits.
“We have developed SpeedFox as both a road safety and cost-saving solution. We are excited about the investment from TIA; the funding will be vital in scaling up and refining the SpeedFox innovation, and tapping into international markets.”
He said many African countries were adopting similar frameworks with specific applications in public transportation and logistics.
“This technology will significantly improve road safety, save lives, increase fuel efficiency, and reduce the costs associated with road accidents,” Annamalai said.
A manager at TIA, Sipho Dikweni, said: “TIA is proud to be associated with SpeedFox as we believe that this technology will revolutionise the transport industry. Among the strategic goals of TIA is that of being an industry builder and fixer.”
Pretoria News