Bifence, a vehicle safety management platform developed by Bifence Korea, a subsidiary of DGT Mobility, combines OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II), GPS, and AI technology to assess risk. A survey conducted by the Daegu branch of the Korea National Private Taxi Mutual Aid Association of 9,871 members showed that from October last year to February this year, the accident rate for vehicles using the Bifence system decreased by 22%.
Accident Rate Falls 22% After Bifence Adoption, Hard Acceleration Down 38%
According to the survey of 9,871 members by the Daegu branch of the Korea National Private Taxi Mutual Aid Association (statistical period: October last year to February this year, five months), companies using the Bifence real-time driving assessment system saw a 22% reduction in traffic accident rates. The total number of accidents in the Daegu taxi industry was 1,810, a 12.9% decrease compared to the same period last year.
The types of issues that drew the most passenger complaints showed the most significant improvement after installing Bifence: hard acceleration accident rates dropped by 38%, and sharp turn accident rates dropped by 47%. The number of taxis using Bifence increased from approximately 2,200 in January last year to approximately 8,600 in December, nearly quadrupling within a year.
Jeong Chang-gi, Chairman of the Daegu Private Taxi Association, said, "When the platform was first launched, drivers strongly resisted real-time evaluations, but now there is fierce competition to get high scores. As passenger satisfaction improved, taxi usage also increased."
Accidents Among Drivers Aged 65 and Over Fell from 626 to 421, a 32.7% Decrease
According to a report on the pilot project for safe driving guidance for elderly drivers jointly held by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) and DGT Mobility, the pilot covered taxi drivers aged 65 and over affiliated with the Daegu City Private Taxi Mutual Aid Association. The number of traffic accidents fell from 626 before the Bifence pilot to 421 after the pilot, a decrease of 32.7%. The incidence of various dangerous driving behaviors fell by 22.4%.
Industry insiders pointed out that scores accumulated over time through real-time driving data collection devices like Bifence can verify elderly drivers' abilities more objectively and effectively than one-time ability tests, and can also reduce unnecessary administrative expenses.
Six Daegu-Gyeongbuk Industry Groups Petition the National Assembly: Drivers Meeting Standards via Real-Time Driving Data Should Be Exempted or Granted Deferral from Qualification Maintenance Tests
According to reports, six groups from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions (including the Gyeongsangbuk-do Taxi Transportation Business Association and the Gyeongsangbuk-do branch of the Korea Public Service Transport Workers' Union, among others) recently submitted a petition to the National Assembly, calling for the introduction of a safety management system that utilizes real-time on-road driving assessment data. Current regulations are as follows:
Taxi drivers aged 65-69: Must undergo a qualification maintenance test or medical examination organized by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) every three years.
Aged 70 and over: Must undergo a test once a year.
The petition requests that drivers who achieve a certain safety score through real-time driving data collection devices be exempted or granted a deferral from taking the qualification maintenance test. The industry believes this would not only incentivize elderly drivers to prioritize safe driving but also reduce unnecessary administrative expenses.
NHTSA Releases Details of 17 Tesla Robotaxi Accidents in May
According to reports, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released details in May of 17 Tesla robotaxi accidents that occurred in Austin, Texas. Issues included failure to start, remote control collisions, and failure to detect objects or animals crossing the road when making unprotected left turns.
Industry insiders in the mobility sector said that if platforms like Bifence, which collect driving data from third-party locations, develop further, they could help verify the safety performance of robotaxis and fully autonomous vehicles, and identify issues in accidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific results has the Bifence system achieved in Daegu?
According to the survey by the Daegu branch of the Korea National Private Taxi Mutual Aid Association, companies using the Bifence real-time driving assessment system saw a 22% reduction in accident rates, hard acceleration accident rates dropped by 38%, and sharp turn accident rates dropped by 47%. A pilot project for taxi drivers aged 65 and over showed the number of accidents fell from 626 to 421 (a 32.7% decrease).
What is the specific demand of the six industry groups' petition to the National Assembly?
According to reports, the petition requests that drivers who achieve a certain safety score through real-time driving data collection devices be exempted or granted a deferral from taking the current qualification maintenance tests (every three years for ages 65-69, annually for ages 70 and over).
What potential applications does Bifence have in the future autonomous vehicle market?
According to industry insiders, Bifence can serve as a third-party verification platform for robotaxis and fully autonomous vehicles, helping to verify autonomous driving safety performance and identify issues in accidents. This application demand has gained more attention following NHTSA's release of details on Tesla robotaxi accidents.
