Drivewyze Free gives truck drivers and fleet managers in-cab safety alerts and advisories using telematics devices, tablets, and smartphones. The service is available at no cost, according to Drivewyze, which has a connected truck network in North America with more than 125 telematic service providers.
Drivewyze is partnering with individual state transportation and enforcement agencies to deliver sudden and unexpected slowdown alerts along freight corridors in participating jurisdictions.
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“Advance notice for routes experiencing sudden or unexpected traffic slowdowns give truck drivers time to prepare,” said Brian Heath, CEO, in a statement. “In North Carolina, where we partnered with the North Carolina DOT, studies found that 70% of drivers that received an alert slowed down ahead of an incident. And the slowdown was significant—on average by 11 mph compared to 2 mph in a control group.”
What does Drivewyze Free offer?
Core message sets for heavy trucks include heads-up warnings for High-Rollover risk areas, Low Bridges, Mountain alerts (steep grade ahead; chain-up/brake check stations; and runaway ramps), and Rest Area information (truck parking availability).
In addition, the service includes access to agency-sponsored real-time traffic slowdowns and other safety alerts generated in partnership with select state transportation and enforcement agencies through the Drivewyze Smart Roadways highway safety program for connected trucks. Participating DOTs include New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, and Virginia. In addition, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is participating, as is the Colorado State Police, and Wyoming Highway Patrol.
Currently, real-time message sets can include warnings for sudden and unexpected slowdowns, virtual safety signs, and public emergency broadcasts.
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“In collaboration with our telematics and transportation agency partners, we are excited to be giving this essential safety service to the trucking industry at no cost,” said Heath. “There are no strings attached. We’re a safety-driven company joined by like-minded agencies and telematics partners to leverage vehicle-to-infrastructure networks to improve highway safety for everyone. We’re hoping all fleets will utilize this free offering to give their drivers technology that can truly make a difference to their safety.”
According to Heath, studies have shown that Essential Safety Alerts and Advisories do foster safer roadways. “Unsafe driving behavior is a leading cause of truck crashes,” he said. “Messaging delivered in the vehicle, where and when drivers need it most, shows the power of connected truck technology to positively affect driving behavior. For instance, when approaching a high-rollover area, we have data that shows our alerts have reduced speed by an average of 7.3 mph for those that are going more than 5 mph over the posted speed limit. That’s an impactful difference and an example of the power of in-cab messaging to improve driver behavior and highway safety.”
What’s more, a NHTSA study showed crashes on interstates represent nearly 30% of all collisions, and many are secondary incidents where a truck or car rear-ended a vehicle that was in a queue from an initial crash. Forty-six percent of secondary crashes occurred over an hour after the initial crash.
