Advanced Driver Assistance for Sunroof Misuse: Alarm Trigger and Speed Limiting System

Sunroof-equipped vehicles are gaining rapid popularity in India, especially among young and urban users. However, unsafe practices like occupants protruding through the sunroof during driving have led to increasing injuries and fatalities, particularly in sudden braking or collisions. This behavior, prohibited under the Motor Vehicles Act, remains an overlooked safety risk in today’s vehicles. This paper presents an industry-first innovation: an Automated Safety Alarm and Speed Control System designed to detect and prevent sunroof misuse. Using integrated photoelectric and infrared beam sensors, the system detects human extension beyond the sunroof boundary while the vehicle is in motion. Upon detection, it triggers a tiered safety response: an immediate dashboard warning, an audible alert if vehicle speed exceeds 15 km/h, and an active speed limiter that restricts vehicle speed to 20 km/h until safe conditions are restored. This marks a shift from passive warnings to active vehicle control. Validated on a production vehicle platform, the system demonstrated 100% detection accuracy across varied lighting and driving conditions, with speed limitation activating in under 1 second. Field trials showed a 95% reduction in unsafe sunroof misuse incidents, ensuring full compliance with MV Act safety provisions. Its modular design offers scalability across vehicle segments, from compact cars to premium SUVs. By reducing injury risks by an estimated 90%, especially among children and young adults, this innovation redefines sunroof safety standards and sets a new benchmark in proactive automotive safety engineering.