Smart Roads Help Decrease Accident Response Times

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Getting drivers to change their behavior on roadways is a complex task. A smart road tracking and public safety technology could contribute to this effort. The newest traffic technology used to improve road safety and response time to vehicle collisions was recently demonstrated in Nevada. The innovative new traffic technology is designed to improve motorist safety, and response times to accidents, slowdowns, and disabled vehicles.
The technology, which is used by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), collects data from road sensors, cameras, and monitors, then relays it to law enforcement for a better response to road conditions.
Once the system senses a slowdown, the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) is notified and the information is sent to a tablet app used by a State Trooper. The officer can then immediately see the location of the problem, and immediately view one or more traffic cameras to visually confirm if it’s an accident, disabled vehicle or road debris. This allows NHP and Freeway Safety Patrol vehicles to determine the appropriate response, as reported by news3lv.com.
For example, data monitoring has allowed NHP to establish Traffic Management Sites, or the positioning of a patrol vehicle at the most ideal distance from an accident. It can also calculate the likelihood of traffic jams or accidents in certain areas, according to reno.legalexaminer.com.
Highway Patrol representatives claim that because of this technology, speeding has been reduced by 91% and TMS crashes by 71%. Lawmakers can also send text alerts to individuals who are subscribed to RTC alerts and to users of the Waze navigation app.