Truckers in state to get traffic alerts
A new partnership between the Arkansas Department of Transportation, Arkansas Trucking Association and Drivewyze intends to provide in-cab traffic alerts for commercial truck drivers traveling on Arkansas freeways.
The proactive safety alerts give drivers a heads up notification on unexpected traffic congestion, or other safety hazards, and are provided free of charge to commercial carriers.
The alerts are through Drivewyze’s Smart Roadways service, which helps state agencies extend the reach of their safety messaging program right into the cabs of commercial trucks.
The alerts are not only real time, but also include virtual sign messaging to help drivers prepare for special traffic conditions or be advised of alternative routes.
Joe Hawkins, state intelligent transportation systems engineer from the highway department, said the department wanted to find a way to inform truckers traveling on major roadways of sudden slowdowns.
“It’s clear that if a truck driver knows of an upcoming sudden slowdown before he or she sees brake lights, accidents can be avoided,” he said in a news release. “It takes a lot of time for a truck to slow down, and the extra time afforded by these alerts can make all the difference in preventing a crash.”
Virtual signs were already used in Arkansas to help drivers with changes in road patterns and slowdowns during the solar eclipse, according to the department.
In order to have the service in the state, a highway department spokesperson confirmed that the department will pay a $225,000 yearly fee.
Arkansas is the tenth state to join in on the alert system from Drivewyze, a software company based in Plano, Texas.
Drivewyze Chief Executive Officer Brian Heath said he is thrilled the highway department and the Arkansas Highway Police have come on board to invest in safety with in-vehicle alerts designed especially for truckers.
“The state has a great partnership with the Arkansas Trucking Association, and it was gratifying to see the collaboration the two organizations have and are building on with the rollout and support for this new safety program,” he said.
The in-cab system can also be used to give the highway department real-time traffic data, according to Celine LePage, marketing manager for Drivewyze.
LePage said the data can allow for state agencies to inspect the success of their safety programs and see if drivers are slowing down or if there is any hard braking happening.
Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, said carriers in the state invest heavily in safety and connected truck technology can amplify that by providing critical safety information to drivers.
An example of a visual in-vehicle message includes “sudden slow down ahead,” which is paired with an audible chime.
The alerts are also configured to allow ample time for trucks to slow down or stop as necessary, according to the release. The alerts are provided for free to drivers and fleets as part of the Drivewyze Free safety service, and run on electronic logging devices, smartphones and tablets.
Those interested in the program can visit www. drivewyze.com/free for more information about the service.
“It’s clear that if a truck driver knows of an upcoming sudden slowdown before he or she sees brake lights, accidents can be avoided,” he said in a news release. “It takes a lot of time for a truck to slow down, and the extra time afforded by these alerts can make all the difference in preventing a crash.”