AGAP (ALERT GADGET FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION): AN EARLY-WARNING SYSTEM FOR DRIVERS IN ACCIDENT PRONE ZONES

The purpose of this research is to design and develop an Early Warning System for Drivers in Accident-Prone Zones, referred to as AGAP (Alert Gadget for Accident Prevention), which aims to provide real-time alerts for drivers approaching hazardous areas to help reduce road-related accidents caused by delayed reactions, poor visibility, and lack of affordable safety technologies. Using an experimental-developmental approach, the study covered concept design, prototyping, testing, and validation phases, conducted with the assistance of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Asuncion. The AGAP prototype integrates an ultrasonic sensor, Arduino Uno microcontroller, I²C LCD display, and an active buzzer to detect obstacles or accident-prone road indicators, issuing simultaneous audio and visual alerts to enhance driver awareness. During simulated detection trials, the device demonstrated an average response time of approximately 1.5 seconds, effectively identifying objects within a 5–50 cm range, with an overall alert efficiency of 92.5%. Statistical analysis using the Kruskal–Walli’s test showed a p-value of 0.014, indicating a significant difference in detection performance across varying distances and confirming that sensor proximity affects accuracy. These results validate AGAP’s reliability as a cost-effective and practical early warning device, offering a promising contribution to driver safety and accident prevention. The study recommends extending sensor range, enhancing sensitivity control, integrating solar-powered and battery-supported systems, and conducting field trials in diverse environmental conditions. Overall, the research confirms that the integration of sensor-based detection and dual-alert mechanisms in AGAP is efficient, functional, and capable of further improvement to strengthen road safety technologies.