The City of Charlotte is, like any city government, preoccupied with boosting the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. In Charlotte, the Vision Zero safety initiative specifically has the goal of completely eliminating traffic accidents resulting in death or serious injury. Achieving this goal may involve leveraging technology.
For example, the City of Charlotte’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently launched its TravelSafely app, beginning with a pilot project in South End.
Council Member Victoria Watlington has stated “We must work together to improve traffic safety and this app promotes connectivity to each other and to our surroundings. The app is another tool that will help us improve safety for all people using our roads and I encourage everyone to download the app and use it in the South End pilot project area.”
TravelySafely App in Charlotte: What is It?
The app’s function is to connect users with a network of crosswalk data. It also connects users with each other.
Essential features of the app include the following:
- Notifications telling users when traffic lights are about to turn green
- Notifications telling users they are approaching red lights if they are doing so too fast
- Notifications letting users know they are traveling too fast in slow speed zones
- Notifications telling users they are approaching a cyclist ahead if the cyclist is also using the app
- Notifications telling motorists using the app that they are approaching crosswalks where pedestrians using the app may be ahead, if it appears a motorist is not going to stop without an alert
The alerts are audible. This ensures users are aware of them and don’t need to look down at their devices to see what an alert is telling them. If the alerts required users to check their devices, they might be too distracting to serve their purpose.
Naturally, the app will deliver the strongest possible results if as many citizens as possible are using it. Thus, CDOT is coordinating with Charlotte City Partners to spread the word about the pilot program throughout South End. TravelySafely is free on both the Google Play store and the Apple App Store, ensuring it’s accessible to virtually any citizen with a smartphone.
What to do When TravelSafely Fails
Hopefully, this pilot program will be successful, TravelSafely will become available on a larger scale, and it will help to reduce accident rates throughout Charlotte.
That said, it’s not a substitute for obeying the rules of the road and exercising caution when navigating Charlotte on foot, in a motor vehicle, or on a bicycle.
Perhaps you’re the type of individual to make smart decisions on the road. Still, you could be harmed in an accident if someone else is careless.
You may be eligible to receive financial compensation if this happens. Learn more about your options by reviewing your case with a Charlotte personal injury lawyer at Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC. We’ll discuss your case and help you pursue the compensation for which you may be eligible if you decide to hire us. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us at 704-335-1500.