Trucking safety tech provider Drivewyze has updated its mobile app to include free in-cab safety notifications that alerts drivers as they approach hazards along their routes. The app for Android users is available now through the app store, and an iOS version is coming soon. The safety notifications are being offered as an unlimited free service, the company announced in a press release.
A driver will receive notifications prior to dangerous curves, low bridges, steep mountain grades, or sudden slowdowns and upcoming work zones. Visual messages such as “high rollover,” and “sudden slowdown ahead" are displayed in conjunction with a chime.
“We wanted to expand the use of safety notifications, especially with owner-operators and smaller fleets,” said Martin Murtland, VP of product at Drivewyze. “Drivers operate on unfamiliar roads all the time, and we’re giving them added ‘vision’ as to what’s ahead. With state agencies collaborating with us to provide real-time alerts on hazardous areas and dangerous traffic conditions, the added visibility in-cab continues to grow.”
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The Drivewyze Smart Roadways program works with participating states to provide additional free in-cab alerts in the event of sudden slowdowns on interstates and highways. Seven state agencies are involved in the program with more states to be added soon, the company stated in the release. Fully automated messages such as “Sudden Slowdown Ahead,” and “Congestion Ahead” are displayed two to three miles in advance. According to a study conducted on I-95 in North Carolina, commercial truck drivers receiving Drivewyze in-cab notifications reduced their speed by an average of 11 mph when they were notified of a sudden slowdown and 8 mph when they were informed of a congestion event, the release stated.
“According to FMCSA, 30% of all crashes are on interstates—and many are secondary incidents where a truck or car rear-ended a vehicle that was in queue from the initial crash. It highlights the importance of these alerts that give earlier warning to drivers. For example, a study by PennDOT on secondary crashes found that nearly half of secondary crashes happened in traffic queues of 60 minutes or longer,” Murtland said.
