Drivewyze and INRIX are revolutionizing highway safety for truck drivers in Texas with their new Smart Roadways service. Partnering with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Drivewyze is deploying real-time traffic data from INRIX along 285 miles of I-45 between Dallas and Galveston, with plans to expand to over 3,000 interstate miles by July. This initiative aims to provide timely alerts directly to truck cabs about sudden traffic slowdowns and other hazards, enhancing safety by giving drivers crucial advance warnings through visual and audible notifications according to a news release.
Darran Anderson, TxDOT’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, emphasized the importance of such innovations in reducing crashes, particularly given the high fatality rates involving commercial trucks in Texas. The integration of Drivewyze Smart Roadways and INRIX alerts represents a significant step forward in ensuring truckers can anticipate and navigate potential road hazards effectively.
The initiative, offered free of charge to the trucking industry through Drivewyze Free, leverages telematics devices, smartphones, or tablets to deliver essential safety alerts. These include not only traffic slowdowns but also advisories for high-rollover risk areas, low bridges, mountainous terrain, and more. Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze, highlighted their longstanding commitment to enhancing in-cab infrastructure and partnerships, enabling state transportation agencies to directly communicate critical safety information to commercial drivers.
This collaboration underscores a proactive approach to highway safety, empowering truckers with the tools they need to navigate Texas highways more safely and efficiently.