European researchers have developed a new routing and monitoring system that promises to provide safer roads and quicker, cheaper turnaround times to trucks carrying dangerous goods.

The ‘good route project developed by researchers at the Informatics and Telematics Institute of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) in Greece aims to minimise the consequences of possible accidents without excessively impacting journey times or transport costs.

The real-time weather and traffic data from the transport authority along with road infrastructure and populated areas information will guide the drivers to the safest itinerary.

Transport company operators and traffic authorities can monitor a truck’s position by installing a GPRS connection to a PDA in the truck’s cab.

An algorithm has been created to calculate the safest route taking into account costs and efficiency.