DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has begun transmitting traffic safety notifications to commercial truck drivers, a program delivered in partnership with Drivewyze and its Smart Roadways services.
All freeways in the state will be covered by the alerts, according to a news release.
“Smart Roadways is an agency-sponsored notification service that extends public highway safety programs into the cabs of commercial trucks,” the news release noted. “In Delaware, the new Traffic & Congestion Alerts service allows commercial drivers to get real-time notifications of upcoming traffic congestion and sudden slowdowns. The new traffic alerts supplement the Drivewyze safety notifications that truck drivers already receive in Delaware, including high rollover areas, low bridges, and railroad crossings.”
The DelDOT alerts program notifies truck drivers about hazardous locations, such as drastic speed changes or heavier than normal congestion is detected, using visual messages such as “sudden slowdown ahead” along with an audible chime.
The alerts are configured to allow ample time for trucks to slow down or stop, as they require more deceleration time than passenger vehicles.
“We are continually working to improve safety on our roads and Smart Roadways will benefit commercial drivers across the state by providing critical in-cab traveler information where and when drivers need it most,” said Delaware Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “Studies have shown nearly 30% of collisions occur on interstates, and many are secondary incidents, where a vehicle is rear-ended when in a queue from an initial crash. This program will help reduce those numbers.”
The Traffic & Congestion Alerts service was developed through an exclusive partnership between Drivewyze and INRIX.
“Leveraging INRIX traffic data, this service allows DelDOT to send real-time alerts to truck drivers through the Drivewyze software application, which is embedded in existing compliance equipment like electronic logging devices and runs on mounted mobile devices,” according to the news release. “DelDOT notifications are also available for free on any Android smartphone (and soon iOS phones) for all truck drivers who download the Drivewyze app-no subscription to Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass or Safety+ is required.”
Delaware is the 7th state to implement Smart Roadways in partnership with Drivewyze, which operates the largest connected truck network in North America.
DelDOT will monitor the alerts program’s performance using anonymized truck data to determine the program’s connected truck reach and impact on driver behavior (such as reductions in speed and hard braking).
“This connected truck network offers DelDOT an opportunity to safely extend highway safety programs and traveler information systems directly into motoring vehicles, increasing the safety and productivity of the trucking industry while improving highway safety for all motorists,” the news release stated.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
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