The Georgia Department of Transportation and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) recently launched the “Reach Home Safely” safe driving mobile application as part of the agency’s ongoing effort to improve road safety and prevent vehicle crashes.
[Above image by Georgia DOT]
To app aims to spur safer driving habits by encouraging drivers to participate in a contest to compete for the title of safest driver, ensuring they “Drive Alert Arrive Alive.” Georgia DOT has partnered with the Atlanta Braves to both promote and offer prizes as part of this campaign tied to the new mobile app.
“Ensuring that every Georgian reaches their destination safely is our top priority,” said Russell McMurry, Georgia DOT commissioner, in a statement.
“By partnering with CMT on the Reach Home Safely app and through the support of the Atlanta Braves, we’re leveraging innovative technology and the power of community to tackle risky driving head-on,” he added. “The ‘Reach Home Safely’ program is more than just a contest — it’s a movement towards safer roads across Georgia.”
The agency said the “Reach Home Safely” mobile app is available for all residents of Georgia. To compete in the contest, participants just need to download the free app, available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
After activating the technology, participants only need to drive safely as the app automatically detects when they’re driving. The app includes a driving score, feedback on driving behaviors, and contest rankings.
Georgia DOT emphasized that all driving data for the contest is anonymized and processed only by CMT. The contests include weekly, monthly, and grand prize winners throughout the remainder of the Braves’ regular season, and include prizes like merchandise, access, experiences and more.
The agency pointed out that distracted driving is a major safety issue on Georgia’s roads as well as for the United States as a whole. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving killed 12,405 people nationwide in 2021, nearly the same amount as impaired driving.
Georgia DOT added that safe driving programs, like “Reach Home Safely,” can make roads safer. In other “Safest Driver” contests managed by CMT, the company said there’s been a recorded reduction of 48 percent in distracted driving incidents; a 38 percent decrease in excessive speeding; and a 57 percent drop in hard braking events.
CMT estimates that Georgia could prevent 4,100 crashes, 19 fatalities, and $160 million in economic damages annually by reducing distracted driving by just 10 percent.
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