New Insights from Altitude by Geotab on Roadway Safety Challenges and Benchmarks

Key Findings on Roadway Safety

A new study released by Altitude by Geotab, previously known as Geotab ITS, has unveiled significant data regarding roadway safety risks on a state-by-state basis. This study, which will be presented at the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington D.C, from January 5 to 9, 2025, meticulously analyzed harsh driving events like sudden braking, rapid acceleration, and aggressive cornering, categorized as "harsh events."

Methodology

The study focused on the number of harsh events per million miles driven by heavy-duty trucks across all 50 states from January to November 2024. The results indicated startling discrepancies in safety risks among the states, showcasing which areas demand immediate attention from infrastructure planners.

Findings

West Virginia and Alaska exhibited the highest frequency of these harsh events, recording over 80,000 incidents per million miles driven. On the contrary, states such as Illinois and Nebraska showcased significantly better safety, with fewer than 2,000 harsh events for light-duty trucks. One key insight from the data is that peak harsh events were noted during the morning rush hour, specifically from 7 AM to 9 AM, signaling a correlation between heavy traffic and unsafe driving incidents.

Implications for Infrastructure Planning

These comprehensive benchmarks provide vital data points that infrastructure planners can utilize to prioritize their safety investments. By identifying hotspots with high risks, local and state officials can allocate resources more effectively to improve overall roadway safety outcomes. Nate Veeh, the AVP of Business Development at Altitude by Geotab, emphasized how this new platform aims to support smaller municipalities in making data-driven decisions.

"We're thrilled to participate in TRB 2025 and showcase how our safety benchmarks can truly assist planners in enhancing infrastructure investments," Veeh stated.

New Innovations on Display

At the TRB Annual Meeting, Altitude will feature its rebranded platform and its innovative use of connected vehicle data to enhance infrastructure planning. Moreover, a special session titled 'Autonomous Connected Trucks Generating Actionable Safety Insights' will be run by Shweta Shah, the AVP of Product Engineering at Geotab, on January 7, 2025. This session will explore how harmonized data can significantly impact freight mobility planning.

Commitment to Privacy

In addition to safety insights, Altitude will introduce its new white paper, "Our Digital Privacy Trust Pact," which outlines its principles on how mobility data insights are generated while maintaining privacy standards. Shweta Shah remarked, "Adopting privacy-first principles will define the mobility data utilized in infrastructure planning, paving the way for trust and actionable intelligence."

Conclusion

Altitude by Geotab continues to lead the way in delivering critical data insights for roadway safety and infrastructure improvement across North America. Their innovative approach not only aims to enhance safety but also prioritizes privacy and ethical standards in data utilization. As we progress into 2025, the role of data analytics in transportation planning will undoubtedly become even more fundamental in achieving safer, smarter, and more effective mobility solutions for all.

For more information and to learn about the study's findings, please visit Altitude by Geotab and follow their latest developments on LinkedIn.