Using IOT To Make Our Roads Safer and Our Air Cleaner

In today's world of diversified mobility, reducing accidents and CO2 emissions are key to achieving a more sustainable society. Drive Agent Personal(DAP)—a driving recorder with communications features developed by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (TMNF). DAP not only promotes safer driving, but also provides advanced accident response, and can help encourage eco-driving by leveraging Japan’s J-Credit scheme.

To learn more about what DAP is and how it works, we talked to Toru Hayakawa of the Personal Lines Underwriting Department, Automobile Group of TMNF.

DAP uses a driving recorder with communication functions to offer a telematics service for individual users. Including corporate clients, the service has over one million contracted units, with a track record of handling more than 40,000 accidents and responding to over 5,000 emergency calls within Japan.

The way the service works is that customers with automobile insurance policies that include a prescribed rider are lent the drive recorders, which not only record video but also provide services such as safe driving support and emergency calling in the event of an accident. Especially in the critical moments immediately following an accident, the service has already helped protect many customers with fast and responsive emergency calls. The data collected by DAP allows operators to act quickly at a time when every second counts.

“In addition to contacting emergency services, the system provides one-stop support by automatically sharing data with relevant services, which can help with contacting the police^*1, arranging towing services, and initiating insurance claims. By carrying out this series of responses seamlessly, we've been able to significantly shorten the time needed to resolve accidents. We have received a lot of appreciation for the service from our customers,” added Toru.

DAP is also being used to promote groundbreaking environmental initiatives. One example is enrollment in the J-Credit Scheme, managed by the Japanese government, which certifies as “credits” the amount of CO2 reduced or absorbed through the introduction of energy-saving equipment and the use of renewable energy. Businesses that engage in eco-friendly initiatives can reap economic and social benefits by using the funds they earn from selling these credits to recoup investment costs and draw attention to their environmental activities.
Data on customers contracted with DAP demonstrate that the frequency of sudden maneuvers like hard braking decreases, promoting both safe and environmentally-conscious driving. Further analysis indicates improvements in fuel efficiency. TMNF showed this evidence to the J-Credit Secretariat and DAP became the first service in Japan to be registered under the J-Credit Scheme as a CO2 reduction project using an eco-driving support system.
The way the process works is that TMNF compiles information on CO2 reduction achieved through eco-driving, which it uses to issue and sell carbon credits. Proceeds from the sale are rebated 100% to the customer in the form of digital coupons, creating a virtuous cycle in favor of more eco-driving.

Toru emphasized that this initiative is a cutting-edge effort. No other companies have received the same certification, which has garnered DAP a lot of attention.
“It took about two years of preparation to register under the J-Credit Scheme,” he recalled. “During the review process by the J-Credit Secretariat, we had to clearly explain the overall feasibility of the framework and the statistical validity of the CO2 emissions reduction figures. We organized the framework down to the smallest detail, worked closely with external partners to analyze and verify the data many times, and persevered through many challenges.
Demonstrating the effectiveness of the program was uniquely challenging. Toru’s team worked with an external partner on complex extraction and processing tasks linked to big data, handling outliers, and removing noise. He explained, “Since this initiative was the first of its kind in Japan, we had to carefully validate it from all perspectives. This included statistically proving the CO2 reduction effects, considering any legal issues, finding out whether customer consent could be obtained, if the service was cost-effectiveness enough, and whether we could provide the service continuously.”

TMNF launched its Coupon Challenge in December 2022, issuing coupons based on safe driving assessments. In December 2023, elements of eco-driving were added. A dedicated smartphone app now provides customers with an evaluation of their driving and rewards those who perform well by sending out coupons. Driving evaluations are carried out weekly and high-scoring participants can enter a lottery. Winners receive a 200-yen digital coupon that can be redeemed at convenience stores.
The customer’s driving is analyzed based on data from the acceleration sensor and GPS in the drive recorder, which is then sent to the cloud via DAP’s built-in communication function. For the eco-driving evaluation, driving status is divided into three categories: acceleration, constant speed, and deceleration. The smoothness of each operation is measured and scored. Finally, feedback on driving performance is provided via the app.
“The display on the app changes depending on how eco-friendly the customer drives,” Toru noted. “We’ve even incorporated a visual effect where the background gradually changes to a richer environment. These gameplay elements are designed so that people can enjoy eco-driving.”

Statistical processing has already confirmed a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 3.85%^*5 for customers who have introduced DAP. “Through this initiative and based on the current number of contracts, we project reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 10,000 tons per year. And that is only the beginning. We want to communicate the appeal of DAP to as many people as possible and work to achieve even greater results,” Hayakawa emphasized.
Eco-driving not only protects the environment, but also contributes to the promotion of safe driving. One example Hayakawa shared was of a customer travelling through the mountains who lost control of his vehicle while trying to pick up the smartphone he dropper. His car rolled down a cliff. DAP immediately detected the accident and contacted an operator, who promptly called in an emergency response, preventing the accident from escalating into something very serious.
“Using DAP saved me,” the customer later recalled. “I now feel scared when I'm in a car that isn't equipped with DAP. I've already recommended it to many people. It's a lifesaver.”
As an IoT device, DAP is slated for future improvements through software updates. TMNF has stated its commitment to promoting further environmental initiatives aimed toward achieving a carbon neutral and decarbonized society. In addition, plans are already in place to further advance R&D by leveraging AI on the collected big data.

“Accidents are a social problem that affects everyone, including non-motorists,” Toru concluded. “DAP has allowed us to accumulate big data, and recently, AI technology has been advancing at a rapid pace. By fully leveraging these resources to advance further R&D, we aim to both reduce accidents and promote eco-friendly driving, thus contributing to the realization of a more sustainable society.”