Various regions across China have deployed drones to assist in capturing accident scenes, directing traffic, and easing congestion following highway accidents.
On Friday, the first day of the Qingming Festival holiday, highways across China experienced a surge in traffic. In Langfang City, Hebei Province in northern China, a rear-end collision between two vehicles blocked a highway lane, worsening the congestion.
Upon detecting the incident through video monitoring, local traffic officers swiftly deployed a drone, which arrived at the scene within five minutes to assist with the situation.
"The drone has captured photos of the accident scene for evidence. Please exchange driver's licenses and proceed to the next toll station to handle the accident," traffic officer Liu Qifeng announced to the drivers involved, using the drone's loudspeaker.
Following the drone's instructions, the vehicles quickly left the scene, and traffic flow was promptly restored.
On a highway section in east China's Jiangxi Province, two vehicles were involved in a rear-end collision and remained in the driving lane, causing a backlog of traffic behind them.
Local traffic officers used a drone to communicate with the drivers, informing them that the scene had been photographed and instructing them to clear the driving lane.
"We have taken photos and collected evidence of the accident scene. Please move your vehicle out of the driving lane," the officer instructed.
A traffic accident also occurred on Thursday on a highway in east China's Fujian Province, where a truck collided with a van, causing damage to both.
Drones reached the scene just three minutes after the accident, broadcasting safety reminders to drivers and passengers from above and dispatching the nearest on-duty officers to respond quickly to the situation.
While traditional accident response typically takes 15 to 20 minutes, drones can reduce the average handling time to just eight minutes by rapidly collecting evidence and providing remote guidance.
"We have upgraded our drone fleet this year. Equipped with 9-megapixel high-definition cameras for accurate license plate identification and other functions, the drones can not only facilitate quick accident responses but also monitor roads in real time for potential incidents, such as illegal parking or driving in restricted lanes," said Sun Hua, a highway traffic officer with the Hebei Traffic Management Department.
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, fell on April 4 this year. It is a traditional Chinese holiday during which people visit the graves of ancestors and enjoy the greenery of springtime.
Drones deployed across China to capture accident scenes, direct traffic after highway crashes
