Expanding on a successful effort seen across the country to use advanced data analysis to improve roadway safety, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) received a $100,000 grant to harness cutting-edge data and gain broader insight into the effectiveness of automated enforcement technology in work zones.
This grant comes from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Michelin Mobility Intelligence (MMI). CTDOT is among three State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) to receive Michelin data services, building upon the success of the agency’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera Pilot Program.
Using Michelin telematics data, CTDOT’s Highway Safety Office (HSO) will conduct a comparative data analysis between four work zones with speed cameras and five zones where cameras were not active. This will enable CTDOT to greater explore the role and impact of speed cameras, identify risks due to non-compliant drivers, and further understand driver behavior in work zones.
During the pilot program in 2023, more than 20,000 drivers were issued warnings for exceeding speed limits by 15 miles per hour or more in work zones. All five locations analyzed also showed a reduction in driver speeds. The Michelin telematics data will expand upon those findings.
“Behind the cones, barriers, vests, and hard hats stand human lives, underscoring the critical role we all play in work zone safety,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Highway workers deserve to feel safe, which is why we’re continuing to act and utilize resources available to us. But we can’t do this alone. We need the public to do their part, as well, so everyone makes it home safely.”
“New and innovative data analysis has led to advancements in so many other fields – like public health, finance, and marketing – but roadway safety has been slow to modernize and adapt to the data revolution,” said GHSA Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins. “Unlocking new safety data and insights will help communities across the country improve safety for everyone on the road.”
This investment in safety data insights, based on a competitive application process, follows another $300,000 that GHSA and MMI awarded to three states in 2024. To learn more about this program, you can view the full announcement online.
For up-to-date information, safety tips, and news regarding work zone safety, visit ObeyTheOrange.com.