Iowa Department of Transportation (IDoT) has selected Inrix Dangerous Slowdowns to help improve road safety in the US state through alerting drivers and the department about sudden reductions in speed or stopped traffic.  

Inrix is a global company that offers connected car services and transportation analytics, which helps transport authorities manage traffic mobility in urban areas.

IDOT will be the first transportation agency to incorporate this service that monitors, measures and manages the state’s road network.

Inrix global public sector vice-president and general manager Scott Sedlik said: “We are proud to supply road safety and traffic information that improves system management and incident response, as well as delivers better information to travellers in Iowa.

“The expansion of our existing agreement with the Iowa DOT further validates our world-class traffic services.”

The state transport agency has been using Inrix’s real-time and historical traffic data for nearly three years in order to support traffic management and operations.

"The quality of data and innovative features give us the tools necessary to keep congestion at a minimum and keep drivers safe while on our roadways."

Under the latest agreement, the agency will use newly added Inrix tools and features to support statewide traffic and incident management. New tools include Inrix Dangerous Slowdowns, launched in Inrix XD Traffic to help prevent back-of-queue collisions.

Other tools used by the IDoT include Inrix Performance Measures, which provides detailed information to transportation planners in understanding real-time situations on the road and helping them improve roadway performance and maximise investment of public funds.

In addition, the agency will be using Inrix Trips that provides an insight into road trips made by the individuals. Data gathered will include where they begin and end journeys, while Inrix Real-Time Traffic Flow leverages anonymous, real-time GPS data from connected vehicles and devices to deliver traffic information on freeways, and major arterial roads.

Iowa Department of Transportation traffic operations director Scott Marler said: “INRIX real-time traffic services has helped us to actively manage traffic on our system and more accurately measure and report the impact of transportation investments.

“The quality of data and innovative features give us the tools necessary to keep congestion at a minimum and keep drivers safe while on our roadways.”