New Jersey's NJ Transit has entered an agreement to ensure more than 300 railroad crossings across the US state are highlighted in the Waze app.
NJ Transit CEO Kevin S. Corbett says: “This new partnership with Waze will greatly enhance our efforts to keep railroad crossings safe.
“NJ Transit is committed to leveraging technology to improve safety, and this partnership with Waze complements our joint study with Rutgers University we announced in December to improve pedestrian detection at rail crossings. Working together, these new technologies could ultimately save lives.”
In many cases, NJ Transit says the greatest safety issues at railroad crossings stem from confused or distracted drivers accidentally turning onto tracks instead of corresponding roadways, especially during inclement weather or in darkness.
The new Waze feature will automatically alert drivers while using the traffic navigation mobile app that they are nearing a railroad crossing.
The warning will appear as a banner on Waze and remind them to proceed with caution.
Brian Lapp, NJ Transit senior vice president, says: “As our society becomes more and more dependent on technology, partnerships like the one with Waze can bring enhanced safety awareness of NJ Transit operations directly to motorists and is an integral addition to compound upon the many other mitigation strategies we already have in place to improve safety for motorists and NJ Transit customers alike.”
The partnership is just one action NJ Transit is carrying out in support of US National Safety Month.
The authority is also providing safety tips for employees and customers that will be displayed at internal employee locations, as well as the First Run blog and variable message boards throughout the state.
Additionally, it is hosting various safety events to remind the public of the importance of safety protocols when at a transit station or using mass transit.
