5 things you need to know about the wisconsin department of transportation's new 'Crash Alert' system
- The new system instantly texts loved ones when a serious crash is detected near their vehicle, using GPS data from the driver's phone to notify emergency contacts before police even arrive.
- Drivers can opt-in for free through the WisDOT app, which also sends real-time warnings about road closures, construction zones, and deer migration patterns across Wisconsin's highways.
- State officials claim this reduces response time by up to 40%, potentially saving lives on rural roads where cell service is spotty and help can take 30 minutes.
- Privacy experts have raised concerns about data sharing, but the wisconsin department of transportation says all location data is encrypted and deleted after the alert is sent.
- The first major test was during the recent I-94 pile-up near Madison, where the system alerted 12 families within seconds of the crash being logged by state sensors.