The Illuminating Whale

Abstract

The study proposes an innovative emergency signalling architecture based on two autonomous LED devices positioned outside stationary vehicles in order to improve visibility, reduce secondary collisions, and strengthen contemporary road safety governance. The study originates from the growing limitations of traditional passive warning systems, such as the retroreflective triangle, within modern mobility environments characterized by high traffic density, reduced reaction times, distracted driving, and increasingly complex operational conditions. Drawing on the conceptual framework of the Help Car Roof Project (Rufa et al., 2023), the proposed system integrates multidirectional LED conspicuity with a red-green chromatic logic, inspired by maritime and aeronautical navigation systems. The theoretical framework combines the Safe System Approach, human factors research, cognitive ergonomics, intelligent transportation systems, and contemporary road policing paradigms. The article argues that emergency signalling technologies should no longer be considered simple technical accessories, but rather active components of integrated mobility safety and preventative risk governance. Particular attention is devoted to the operational applications for road policing, emergency responders, roadside assistance personnel, and infrastructure maintenance operators, whose exposure to secondary collisions remains a critical issue worldwide. Finally, the study explores future integration with ITS and V2X systems, highlighting the potential evolution of emergency signalling into intelligent, connected, and anticipatory communication systems capable of improving infrastructural resilience and adaptive mobility safety.