UP DGP launches road safety project, Google Maps to now display real-time speed limits in Noida

Noida, Nov 12 (PTI) In a first-of-its-kind initiative to curb road accidents through technology, Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna on Tuesday launched ‘Vision Safe Road: An Extra Mile for Accident Mitigation’, a project that integrates real-time vehicle speed limits with Google Maps to promote safe driving across Noida and Greater Noida.

Under the project, an initiative of the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police, the prescribed speed limits for heavy, medium, light, and two-wheeler vehicles on major routes in the district will now appear live on Google Maps.

Motorists using navigation will be able to see both their real-time speed and the designated speed limit simultaneously, encouraging them to slow down if they exceed the threshold.

The project developed in coordination with Google India and Lepton Software Export and Research Pvt Ltd, Gurugram, was launched virtually by DGP Krishna from Lucknow.

Calling the project a “life-saving intervention”, the DGP said Google Maps has become “a way of life” and that the Noida Police initiative is “timely, relevant, and a reflection of India’s digital transformation”.

He said the use of such technology by police will directly benefit the society by making the roads safer, an official statement said.

Past traffic enforcement campaigns along three national highway stretches in Uttar Pradesh had led to a marked decline in accidents, the officer said.

“We must believe that road accidents can be reduced through meaningful interventions, and this initiative is a strong step in that direction,” the DGP said.

He also said that 80-90 per cent of citizens want to follow traffic rules but often lack clear information.

“This initiative bridges that information gap,” he said, suggesting that Google could further enhance the system by adding audio alerts for over-speeding or accident-prone areas on maps to ensure timely warnings for drivers.

Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, who was present at the launch, said speeding is the leading cause of road accidents.

“Every road has a speed limit to reduce accident risks. This initiative will raise driver awareness, ensuring people drive within the safe limits. Following traffic rules keeps everyone safe,” she said.

Lepton CEO Rajeev Sarraf described the initiative as the first data-driven traffic management and public awareness experiment in the state, while Google’s Roli Agarwal said the company would soon expand similar partnerships with traffic wings in other districts to help reduce road accidents. PTI KIS ARI