Navigating Safety: Illinois State Police Pioneers Real-Time Alert System to Prevent 'Move Over' Crashes

Innovative GPS-Based Technology Transforms Road Safety for Troopers and Drivers Alike

Challenge

IIllinois State Police faced a critical safety issue with "move over" crashes, resulting in trooper fatalities and injuries despite the existing Scott's Law which mandates motorists to change lanes when encountering stopped or disabled vehicles with flashing warning lights. Since 2019, two troopers have been killed, nine seriously injured, and 51 others injured in such crashes, highlighting the urgent need for improved driver awareness and compliance.

Solution

Illinois State Police partnered with the Department of Innovation & Technology, Google Public Sector, and BlueVector AI to create a real-time GPS-based alert system integrated with Waze. This system utilizes data from the Illinois State Police dispatch to relay information about roadside incidents directly to drivers. When an incident occurs, alerts are generated and sent to Google Cloud, which formats and pushes this information to navigation apps. As they approach an ISP trooper or incident, drivers see notifications and icons on their navigation apps prompting them to slow down and move over safely. By providing earlier visibility of police activity, the system enables drivers to receive advanced warnings on their devices, allowing them more time to comply with Scott's Law.

Results

This innovative solution positions Illinois as one of the first states to implement a real-time GPS-based alert system for "Move Over" crash prevention. Given the widespread use of navigation apps, it's reasonable to estimate that the system could reach at least 50-70% of drivers on Illinois highways. This technology-driven approach not only enhances public safety and protects law enforcement officers but also sets a new standard for leveraging widely used navigation apps to address critical road safety issues. If similar systems in other states are any indication, we might expect to see a 20-30% reduction in "Move Over" related incidents within the first year.

About Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology

The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is a state agency responsible for delivering technology solutions and services to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations in Illinois. DoIT partners with state agencies, including the Illinois State Police.