Accident Detection and Prevention System Using IoT and VANET

Road accidents are a major global concern, often caused by limited driver awareness and sudden traffic changes. This paper presents an advanced accident detection and prevention system featuring a novel IoT-enabled Onboard Unit (OBU) integrated with a Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) architecture. The OBU uses ultrasonic sensors and an Arduino-based controller to monitor the proximity and speed of nearby objects, predicting potential collisions and issuing real-time alerts to drivers. Upon detecting a threat or accident, the OBU communicates with Road Side Units (RSUs) to disseminate alerts across the network, enabling timely warnings and emergency response. The system supports both accident prevention and post-accident management through real-time V2V and V2I communication. The research also evaluates network protocols to ensure reliable data exchange in dynamic traffic conditions. This integrated approach aims to reduce accident frequency and severity while improving traffic safety and response efficiency.