RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is working to reduce the risk of commercial truck crashes to help keep work zones and highways flowing smoothly.
The department is partnering with Intelligent Imaging Systems, a Canada-based company that provides connected-truck technology, including in-cab communications, to provide truck drivers traveling through the state with real-time alerts of traffic and road conditions. Intelligent Imaging Systems is the parent company of Drivewyze The alerts will help commercial drivers react more quickly before encountering stopped traffic or major slowdowns.
“We strive to let people know of unexpected traffic conditions,” said Kevin Lacy, the state traffic engineer at NCDOT. “We’re excited to be working with an industry partner that is using new technology. Truck drivers will be able to get advance warning of a major roadway incident before they see it on one of our dynamic message signs.”
NCDOT’s first-in-the nation pilot will cover all of the state’s 182 miles of Interstate 95, as well as the rural portions of Interstate 40 outside the Triangle, the Triad and Asheville.
The new alert system will display messages, such as “Sudden Slowdown Ahead” or “Congestion Ahead,” 2 or 3 miles before commercial truck drivers encounter the slowed traffic or incident. Information will be in real time via INRIX, a provider of transportation analytics and connected vehicle services. These alerts will complement other notifications subscribed trucks already receive through the Drivewyze notification service.
The NCDOT maintains more than 300 digital message signs that provide important traffic updates across 2,500 miles of highway. The safety alerts issued the pilot program can reach commercial drivers even in locations where there is not a digital sign.
Big rigs need more time to slow down, and crashes involving tractor-trailers can close highways for extended periods and contribute to secondary crashes, such as rear-end collisions. A fully loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 65 mph takes 66% longer to stop than a passenger car.
“We’re pleased to partner with the North Carolina Department of Transportation in providing a ‘connected truck’ solution that gives truckers a heads-up on unforeseen slowdowns,” said Brian Heath, president and CEO of Intelligent Imaging Systems. “These alerts will no doubt help with traffic safety along interstates in North Carolina. We’re a company committed to highway safety, and we applaud how NCDOT is the first agency to add these important safety alerts to truckers.”
The one-year contract to employ the alerts began May 17. At the end of the one-year test, NCDOT will evaluate the safety benefits of the pilot.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Smart move.