Thick fog, heavy rain, or a broken-down vehicle around a curve: these sudden road events can have serious consequences. To tackle these challenges, Bosch has developed the Road Hazard Service, an innovative real-time system that provides drivers with information about potential dangers on their route. Having been implemented in passenger cars since June 2024, the system will be rolled out in December to Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
The Road Hazard Service delivers real-time alerts about a wide range of potential hazards, including slippery roads, poor visibility, heavy rain, strong winds, accidents, breakdowns, and wrong-way drivers. This enables drivers to take necessary precautions to avoid accidents, such as reducing speed or adjusting their route. Critical road conditions are accurately predicted using anonymous data from a global fleet of millions of vehicles, as well as information from third-party sources such as weather services and road operators. Vehicles equipped with Bosch’s service provide various data types, including local external temperature, activation of wipers or fog lights, accident reports, or ESP system interventions.
For instance, if several vehicles have their wipers set to the highest speed, the service compares this data with meteorological reports about rainfall on the road. An advanced algorithm then determines if there’s a risk of aquaplaning and warns the driver to slow down if necessary. Similarly, if visibility is at risk of dropping below a critical level, the system analyzes fog light activity in nearby vehicles to determine whether an alert should be issued.
A reference fleet constantly ensures a high level of service quality. Additionally, the service includes Bosch’s "wrong-way driver warning": if there is a wrong-way driver nearby, or if the driver is on the wrong side of the road, a warning is sent directly to the navigation display.
The Road Hazard Service is part of Bosch’s Connected Map Services, which enhance driving safety and comfort. The data collected, along with weather information, can also be used to optimize driver assistance systems like Adaptive Cruise Control or automatic emergency braking. For example, on wet or slippery roads, the vehicle may initiate emergency braking earlier to prevent potential accidents, thanks to the data provided by the service.
Connected Map Services play a crucial role in increasingly assisted and autonomous driving. They act as an additional sensor that goes beyond the vehicle’s line of sight and radar and video sensors, providing the autonomous vehicle with all the relevant data for safe driving, even in low visibility conditions. Connected vehicles benefit from the collective experience of all connected vehicles, allowing systems to determine optimal driving speeds, exact lane geometry, and intersection trajectories.
