Sightic and Volvo Group: Exploring AI to prevent accidents caused by drunk driving
Alcohol and drug-related accidents account for a significant portion of road fatalities worldwide. In Sweden alone, the traffic authority (Trafikverket) states that a quarter of all road traffic fatalities are the result of alcohol or drug-related accidents. This alarming figure highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to detect and prevent impaired driving.
Sightic’s founders, Stefanie Najafi and Jenny Johansson, with MobilityXlab's director, Katarina Brud. Photo: Lindholmen Science Park
One of MobilityXlab's portfolio startups, Sightic (f.k.a. Eyescanner), has developed an AI-based software that uses image analysis of the eye to determine with great certainty whether someone is intoxicated. Drugs and alcohol affect the central nervous system, reflecting the eye's reactions and movement patterns. Sightic’s solution uses then machine learning to detect intoxication by filming a sequence of the driver’s eyes in a non-intrusive and privacy-protected way.
Sightic was selected to join MobilityXlab in 2022, and since then the startup and Volvo Group have been testing and validating the AI-driven system. They are now collaborating to develop an intoxication detection solution for the heavy vehicle market, considering its technical and commercial challenges. The results could lead to a solution that can save countless lives by preventing impaired driving.
The success of this collaboration underscores the value of MobilityXlab's program, which fosters innovation through structured collaboration between established industry players and emerging tech companies. Since its foundation in 2017, MobilityXlab has reached 118 validation projects, or proof-of-concepts, between startups and the program partners and 23 accelerations, when the startups receive an investment from a partner company or enter a commercial contract with them.
Sightic was founded by Jenny Johansson and Stefanie Najafi with over 20 years of combined experience in law enforcement, including careers in the Swedish Security Service (SÄPO). With an exciting future ahead, the startup has recently partnered with the electric scooter company Ryde, to integrate its solution into the Ryde app and prevent intoxicated users from riding scooters.
MobilityXlab accelerates global innovation based on Swedish collaboration culture. We offer startups and scaleups with pioneering ideas within mobility and connectivity the opportunity to access the network and accelerate through a strategic partnership with our seven global industry partners.
We are also a collaboration hub that enables projects between our partner companies:
Magna International, Polestar, Volvo Group, Zeekr Technology Europe and Zenseact.
MobilityXlab is a partner to EIT Urban Mobility, as part of the Smart Mobility Accelerator in a consortium with DriveTVL and Startup Autobahn by Plug and Play.
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