Tennessee now providing slowdown alerts to truck drivers through Drivewyze Smart Roadways

In a move to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities, Tennessee has become the latest state to offer sudden slowdown alerts and a virtual sign network to commercial drivers through Drivewyze by Fleetworthy’s Smart Roadways product. The alerts are sent through ELDs, tablets, and smartphones, and are available free of charge through Drivewyze Free. Tennessee is now the 20th state to offer messaging through the Smart Roadways service and the 13th to provide sudden slowdown alerts.

“Our goal is to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries linked to congested roadway conditions,” Josh Brown, director of traffic operations for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said. “It’s why we now have 2,800 miles of roadways covered under the Smart Roadways program. These ‘Heads-up’ alerts will give drivers time to slow down when there is sudden congestion. Smart Roadways will leverage TDOT’s existing intelligent transportation system efforts and utilize digital infrastructure to communicate safety information into the cab of commercial vehicles.”

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More trucks pass through Tennessee than any other state. Interstate 40, which goes through Tennessee, is a critical freight corridor and one of the busiest routes for truck traffic in the U.S. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, trucks move more than 500 million tons of freight annually on Tennessee roads and highways. The number is expected to top 1 billion tons by 2045.

Sudden slowdown and congestion alerts are provided in partnership with INRIX, which uses advanced algorithms that analyze millions of anonymously connected vehicles traveling more than a billion miles daily in the U.S. This allows INRIX to identify and monitor traffic slowdowns. The information then goes to Drivewyze and its Smart Roadways platform. Drivers receive messages such as “Sudden Slowdown Ahead” and “Congestion Ahead” two to three miles before the slowdown begins, allowing time to slow their speed.

Tennessee is also using the Smart Roadways virtual sign messaging service, enabling the DOT to message drivers with custom alerts at specific geo-fenced locations. Messages can alert drivers of detours and notify them of an upcoming work zone.