"Tractor 100m Ahead"... Rural Development Administration to Expand 'LED Signboards'

The Rural Development Administration confirmed the accident prevention effect, such as a reduction in speeding vehicles, through the pilot project of the 'Agricultural Machinery Driving Information Signboard' that guides access information for tractors and other agricultural machinery, and decided to expand its distribution.

On the 6th, the Rural Development Administration announced the results of the pilot distribution of the 'Internet of Things (IoT)-based Agricultural Machinery Traffic Accident Prevention Technology' containing this information.

Over the past five years, the annual average number of deaths from agricultural machinery traffic accidents in South Korea has been about 100, with a fatality rate eight times higher than that of general traffic accidents, making prevention crucial. Accordingly, the Rural Development Administration developed agricultural machinery accident prevention technology by combining information and communication technology (ICT) and IoT in 2019, conducted field verification, and carried out a new technology distribution project for three years from 2021 to 2023.

Agricultural Machinery Driving Guide Sign.

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The agricultural machinery accident prevention technology is based on short-range wireless communication between a terminal attached to the agricultural machinery and an LED driving guidance signboard installed on the road. When the driving guidance signboard detects the approach of agricultural machinery, information such as the type of agricultural machinery, the approaching distance, and speed is displayed in text and images. General vehicle drivers who see this can reduce speed or drive cautiously.

The Rural Development Administration installed 33 agricultural machinery driving guidance signboards and 610 terminals for agricultural machinery in 14 regions nationwide where agricultural machinery operation is frequent and accident risk is high.

Comparing the average speed of 2,454 general vehicles before and after installation in three villages in Jangheung, Jeonnam, where agricultural machinery driving guidance signboards and terminals were installed, the average speed decreased by at least 11%, and speeding vehicles on 60 km/h roads decreased by 25%. In three regions?Gyeyang, Incheon; Jangheung, Jeonnam; and Namwon, Jeonbuk?the perceived traffic safety awareness of farmers increased by 42 to 150%.

Currently, this technology is applied to two types of driving agricultural machinery that cause the most accidents in rural areas: tractors and tillers. In the future, plans are underway to improve the technology to apply it to other types of driving agricultural machinery.

Jo Yong-bin, head of the Agricultural Engineering Department at the Rural Development Administration, said, "We will continue to promote various research incorporating advanced new technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, and do our best to establish a foundation for the dissemination and distribution of technologies that can ensure the safety of not only farmers but also the public."

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