Top 5 Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) in Singapore
- Shoyab Ali
- May 21
- 8 min read
Updated: May 27
Singapore has always been at the leading edge of sustainable urban innovation, especially when it comes to ensuing safety in its dense and brisk work environment. Construction zones, logistics hubs and industrial parks form the backbone of its economy, and managing vehicular movement here isn’t just about traffic, it is about trust, timing and tech.
Recent times have seen paradigm shift in vehicle-human dynamics and this shift has been well acknowledged by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute, who continue to lead the charge in ensuring safer mobility at workplaces. Their drive for smarter safety solutions, backed by research and technology, is ushering in a new era of Vehicular Safety Technology (VST). And Singapore? It is not just keeping pace; it is setting the course.
What are Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs)?
Vehicular Safety Technology (VSTs) refers to an array of advanced systems that are designed to lower vehicle-related incident risks in workplaces, particularly the high-risk ones like construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. The VSTs leverage advanced technologies like AI, Computer Vision, IoT, proximity warning systems, real-time monitoring, and telematics to make vehicular operations safe for both the operators as well as the pedestrians.
In Singapore’s compact and intense industrial landscape, the margin for vehicular error is razor-thin. Here, VSTs serve as digital co-pilot that assist everything from collision prevention, and blind-spot detection, to driver fatigue monitoring, and pedestrian alerting.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the WSH Institute champion this proactive approach, embedding it within national strategies like Vision Zero and WSH 2028. Through initiatives such as the WSH Technology Challenge, MOM continues to support the advancement and adoption of VST solutions across high-risk sectors.
Why Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs)?
A 35-year-old construction worker tragically lost his life after being struck by a reversing dump truck at a worksite in Changi, Singapore. The worker, employed by Hua Hao Development, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the dump truck was subsequently arrested for allegedly causing death by a rash or negligent act. This incident is not isolated – it reflects a deeper pattern.
The year 2024 witnessed rising number of fatalities in Singapore, from 36 in 2023 to 43, with vehicular incidents topping the list of causes. Such uptick underscores the critical need of enhanced vehicular safety measures in high-risk sectors like construction, transport and storage, and marine which account for 80% of the fatalities.
Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) offer a proactive solution to mitigate such risks. Integrating systems like real-time monitoring, proximity sensors and automated instant alerts, VTSs enhance situational awareness and reduce the probability of accidents involving heavy machinery and vehicles.
Top 5 Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) Leading the Safety Tech Charge in Singapore
As Singapore intensifies its efforts to control vehicle-related incidents across high-risk workplaces, technology continues to evolve from being a support system to a safeguard. Among the many solutions gaining traction, these five VSTs stand out for their practical impact, scalability, and alignment with the national goal.
1. viMAC (Edge Device)
Edge devices like viMAC are revamping vehicles into responsive safety systems by processing data instantly at source, supporting fast and accurate decision-making. In high-risk jobsites where blind spots and tight turns are constant, these devices act as AI-powered co-drivers – combining multiple safety functions into one compact unit, working in sync to reduce error in motion-sensitive zones.
Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)
Built-in ADAS capabilities help operators maintain full situational awareness by combining multi-angle video feeds with in-cabin monitors and audio alerts. Features such as forward collision warning, departure warning, headway monitoring, and pedestrian detection, work together to support safe navigation in dynamic zones and empower drivers to respond rapidly to dynamic situations – reducing lag between detection and response.
Blind Spot Detection
Combining multi-camera coverage with AI-powered vision, viMAC monitors hard-to-see zones in real-time, enhancing blind spot detection. It offers a 360° view around the vehicle, establishing a safety zone that detects pedestrians, other vehicles, and obstacles that may otherwise escape the operator’s view. Instant alerts are triggered the moment something enters these zones, enabling on-time responses and reducing likelihood of on-site collision while turning or changing lanes.
Proximity Warning & Collision Avoidance System
Edge-enabled anti-collision system provides a buffer between vehicles and potential hazards. Through continuous monitoring of vehicle’s surroundings using Vision AI, it detects and alerts (visual, auditory or both) nearby objects, pedestrians, and other vehicles in real-time. This proactive approach is especially vital during complex manoeuvres, like turning or reversing, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents and enhancing holistic site safety.
2. Video Analytics (Computer Vision)
Video analytics powered by Computer Vision has transformed passive surveillance to an active layer of safety intelligence. Rather than just recording footages, video analytics AI detects hazardous vehicle-pedestrian interactions, calculates trajectory during proximity breaches, and flags unsafe driving patterns like sharp turns, over-speeding, and unauthorized vehicle entry into restricted zones.
These systems also support traffic management through real-time tracking and geofencing for exclusion zones, ensuring that vehicles stay within designated paths and out of danger zones. Far beyond what traditional CCTV setups can offer, these high-tech systems add an intelligent safety layer that operates tirelessly, round-the-clock.
This technology is especially effective when integrated with AI frameworks that understand context and behaviour. In Singapore’s densely packed worksites, where vehicle-human interaction is frequent and unpredictable, real-time visual intelligence significantly reduces the chances of error. Solutions powered by platforms like viAct leverage such analytics to deliver contextual alerts, automated safety reports, and digital records of near-miss events, giving EHS and safety teams immediate insights and long-term visibility into vehicular tasks.
3. Access Control
In high-risk industrial environments, access control is more than a mere gatekeeper, it is a proactive layer of vehicular risk mitigation. By ensuring that only authorised personnel can operate specific vehicle, the VSTs drop down the risk of unauthorised use or mishandling.
EHS platforms like viAct embed access control into their broader safety ecosystem, adding a secure step before ignition or machine activation. One prime feature includes worker authentication before operation, typically using methods like facial recognition, biometrics scans or RFID.
This not only improves operational discipline but also ensures that only trained and certified individuals gain access. In jobsites where multiple shifts and ephemeral workforces are common, access control brings clarity, accountability, and an added layer of assurance for supervisors and EHS officers.
4. 360° Camera
Vehicle operators often struggle with low visibility in fast-paced and compact jobsites, especially while turning or reversing. The 360° camera helps address this challenge by providing real-time view of the vehicle surrounding area, merging feeds from multiple angles into a centralized dashboard. This panoramic view enables drivers to detect any nearby people, vehicle, and objects in real-time to prevent potential mishaps.
In contrast to the conventional camera setup, the VSTs are designed not just for visibility but for active situational control. When paired with AI-enabled platforms, the 360° views are further enhanced with real-time risk detection, that highlights risk nearby, helping operators interpret scenes, rather then simply see them.
5. IoT-based Fleet Tracking
Connected vehicles are becoming the new standard across high-risk worksites and IoT-based fleet tracking systems are leading the shift. These IoT-based fleet tracking systems go beyond GPS, they deliver real-time insights into engine status, vehicle location, and driver behaviour like prolonged idling or over speeding. Features like geofencing allow for the creation of virtual boundaries defining safe operating zones, triggering alerts whenever vehicle enter or exit the pre-defined zones.
Platforms like viAct embed these capabilities into intuitive dashboards, giving EHS and fleet managers a bird-eye view of operational risks and performance. Whether it is staying compliant or responding swiftly to unsafe vehicle activity, the IoT-based fleet tracking systems turns mobile assets into visible, manageable, and accountable units of safety.
Components for Vehicular Safety Technology (VST) Installation in Heavy Vehicles
Installing VSTs require proper assemblage of hardware components, each playing an important role in creating a responsive and intelligent safety ecosystem for heavy vehicles. Below are the core components that bring these systems to life on ground.
1. CCTV Cameras
Mounted on the vehicle, these cameras capture a 360° view to monitor blind spots, people, and nearby vehicles/objects in real-time.
2. Edge AI Device (viMAC)
The central processing unit that runs AI algorithms locally – analyzing video feeds, detecting hazards, and triggering safety responses.
3. Alerting System
Equipped with buzzer and audio cues, the alerting system delivers real-time warnings during proximity breaches or unsafe manoeuvres.
4. LCD Display
Installed inside the vehicle cabin, the screen provides live visual feedbacks and hazard alerts, allowing operators to make quick and informed decisions.
Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) Applications Across Heavy Fleets
VSTs are not limited to a specific type of vehicle. They are engineered to adapt across a wide range of industrial fleets. From compact utility machines to large-scale construction vehicles, VSTs provide safety reinforcements wherever risky vehicular movements occur.
Applicable industrial fleets include:
Forklifts: Frequent indoor and warehouse use makes them prone to blind spot risks and pedestrian collisions.
Dump Trucks: Often operate in cluttered construction sites; VSTs help prevent reverse-gear incidents and side swipes.
Cranes: Require high precision during movement and lifting, proximity alerts support safe equipment coordination.
Tankers: Carry hazardous or heavy loads; VSTs assist with lane discipline, fatigue monitoring, and route safety.
Excavators: Limited operator visibility makes blind spot detection and 360° monitoring crucial during operation.
Powered Haulers: Used across large industrial and mining sites; geofencing and fleet tracking ensure safe and compliant usage.
Paving the Road Ahead with Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs)
With industries becoming more complex and work zones overcrowded, VSTs have shifted from being an innovation to a necessity. From Computer Vision-based video analytics and edge devices like viMAC, to 360° cameras and IoT-enabled fleet tracking, these vehicular safety technologies are restructuring how safety is built into every vehicular operation. When implemented as an integrated system, VSTs not only downsize blind spots and reaction times, rather they enhance fleet transparency, operator accountability, and overall risk mitigation in real-time.
In Singapore, solutions offered by safety-tech platforms like viAct conform to national frameworks and further support schemes like the Productivity Solutions Grants (PSGs). Under PSG, eligible companies can receive up to 50% funding for pre-approved safety solutions, that includes anti-collision systems, driver fatigue monitoring, and blind spot detection. By adopting VSTs, companies not only comply with the local mandates, but they also take a proactive step towards building a culture of zero harm while boosting operational productivity.
Quick FAQs
1. What is Vehicular Safety Technology (VST)?
Vehicular Safety Technology or VST refer to advanced tech solutions like AI cameras, proximity sensors, and edge computing devices that help reduce vehicular risks in high-risk workplaces by enhancing visibility, alerting operators, and preventing collisions.
2. What role do VSTs play in preventing vehicle-related incidents at worksites?
Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) enhance on-site safety by continuously tracking vehicle surroundings, detecting blind spot intrusions, alerting operators in real-time, and analysing unsafe driving patterns, reducing the risk of accidents and improving operational awareness.
3. Can Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) be installed on any type of industrial vehicle?
Yes, VSTs are designed to be adaptable across a wide range of fleets including forklifts, dump trucks, excavators, cranes, tankers, and powered haulers used in construction, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, oil & gas and marine operations.
4. How do VSTs assist in driver behaviour monitoring?
VSTs analyze patterns like harsh braking, speeding, prolonged idling, and sharp turning using AI video analytics and Computer Vision, helping identify risky actions and enabling targeted training or corrective action.
5. What makes viAct Vehicular Safety Technologies (VSTs) solution different?
viAct VST ecosystem integrates Edge AI, Computer Vision, and IoT to deliver real-time hazard detection, 360° visibility, and automated safety alerts, all processed locally via its Edge device viMAC for rapid response, even without cloud dependency.
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