Car Accident & Alcohol Detection and
Blackbox Recorder System
ABSTRACT
Road traffic accidents are responsible for approximately 1.3 million deaths and 20–50 million
injuries globally each year. These incidents impose severe economic burdens on individuals,
families, and countries due to treatment costs and productivity losses. To address this
problem, we propose a Car Accident & Alcohol Detection and Blackbox Recorder
System that combines accident prevention and investigation capabilities.
This system utilizes multiple sensors to detect critical events such as fire, vibrations (impact),
alcohol presence, over-speeding, and vehicle tilt. It sends immediate SMS alerts with GPS
coordinates to registered contacts and stores second-by-second sensor data on an SD card for
post-accident analysis. Powered by an Arduino Mega, this prototype serves as a "vehicle
blackbox" with real-time alert and data logging features, enhancing safety, accountability,
and crash analysis.
INTRODUCTION
The rise in road accidents demands innovative automotive safety systems that not only
prevent incidents but also assist in post-crash analysis. Traditional blackbox systems are
limited to flight data recorders in aviation. Our project brings this concept to road vehicles,
especially personal cars, by building a compact blackbox with alcohol detection and
accident alert capabilities.
The system monitors a range of conditions using onboard sensors: temperature for fire,
vibration for collision detection, gyroscope for vehicle tilt/roll, alcohol level in breath, and
speed using motor simulation. When abnormalities are detected, it instantly sends SMS alerts
and logs critical sensor data for further investigation. This system is ideal for car owners,
fleet managers, and accident investigators.
1. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Design and develop an in-vehicle blackbox system capable of detecting signs of an accident,
drunk driving, over-speeding, fire, and collision. The system should send SMS alerts with
GPS coordinates and store all sensor readings during and before the incident for analysis. It
should ensure real-time awareness for stakeholders and post-accident traceability.
2. OBJECTIVES
To detect and alert about drunk driving, accident impact, fire, and over-speeding
To provide real-time location-based SMS alerts using GSM and GPS modules
To log sensor data on SD card for crash analysis and investigation
To simulate vehicle speed and monitor for unsafe conditions
To enable a cost-effective and scalable blackbox solution for vehicles
3. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
Accident Detection and Alerts:
Detecting impact using vibration sensor
Fire detection using temperature sensor
Gyroscope sensor for tilt or overturn monitoring
Alcohol detection using alcohol sensor
Speed monitoring via DC motor simulation and trimpot
Communication:
SMS alerts using GSM module
Location tracking via GPS module
Instant notifications with Google Map links for live tracking
Data Logging:
Real-time recording of sensor data on SD card during abnormal events
Storing information for accident investigation and legal documentation
4. METHODOLOGY
Block Diagram Components:
Arduino Mega: Central controller for processing sensor inputs and executing logic
Temperature Sensor: Detects fire or abnormal heat in the vehicle
Vibration Sensor: Detects physical impact or crashes
Gyroscope Sensor: Records tilt or rollover data
Alcohol Sensor: Detects alcohol presence in the driver’s breath
GPS Module: Captures current vehicle location
GSM Modem: Sends SMS alerts with event type and coordinates
DC Motors with Trimpot: Simulates vehicle speed and over-speeding conditions
SD Card Module: Logs sensor readings second-by-second during an event
LCD Display: Displays system status and sensor data
Switches & LEDs: Indicators and manual input triggers
Power Regulation Circuit: Supplies regulated power to system
Wiring, PCB, and connectors: For electrical integration
Hardware Components:
Arduino Mega
Temperature Sensor
Vibration Sensor
Alcohol Sensor
Gyroscope Sensor
GPS Module
GSM Modem
DC Motors
Trimpot
LCD Display
SD Card Module & SD Card
Switches & LEDs
PCB Board
Resistors, Capacitors, Transistors
Regulatory Circuitry
Cables and Connectors
Software Components:
Embedded C programming for Arduino
Real-time sensor threshold monitoring
SMS formatting and serial communication with GSM/GPS
SD card logging interface
5. APPLICATIONS
Personal Vehicles: Provides family members or owners with accident alerts
Fleet Management: Ensures driver accountability and accident analysis
Public Transport: Monitors driver behavior and road incidents
Insurance Industry: Supports claim validation and crash investigation
Automotive Safety Research: Offers real-world data for policy and engineering
decisions
6. REFERENCES
1. “Smart Vehicle Black Box System for Accident Detection & Alerting” – IEEE 2020
2. “IoT-Based Vehicle Accident Detection and Alert System” – IRJET 2019
3. “GPS-GSM Based Vehicle Tracking and Accident Detection System” – IJAEEE 2018
4. NevonProjects Electronics Kit Documentation
