ITS America and the cross-industry private sector Together for Safer Roads (TSR) coalition have announced a partnership to accelerate adoption of road safety technologies during their co-hosted State Department of Transportation Roundtable Reception at the ITS America Annual Meeting and Expo in Detroit.
As road safety leaders in transportation technologies, ITS America and TSR will support younger companies creating new, safer road usage patterns and options, improving the safety outcomes of commercial drivers and operators, or focusing on putting people and their road safety vulnerabilities at the heart of product design. The collaboration is through TSR’s Global Entrepreneur Program (GEP), which connects early-stage companies with road safety experts to reimagine solutions that will reduce highway injuries and fatalities. TSR is an innovative coalition that brings together global private sector companies, across multiple industries, that are collaborating on improving road safety and reducing deaths and injuries from traffic crashes worldwide. TSR’s current members include: AB InBev, Abertis, AIG, AT&T, CalAmp, Ericsson, Geotab, GM, iHeartMedia, Octo Telematics, PepsiCo, Republic Services, Ryder, UPS, and Walmart.
In conjunction with the announcement, TSR has opened the application process for early-stage companies to be considered for the GEP’s next cohort. Applicants will be reviewed and selected by an Innovation Impact Board consisting of representatives from TSR, ITS America and the start-up community. The selected companies will be engaged in the tailor-made program to:
• Tap into a global network of transportation and mobility leaders through tailored mentorships from global road safety experts to help scale to the needs of road users;
• Develop evidence and proof points that advance the understanding of the potential or short comings of new solutions;
• Accelerate adoption of worthy solutions that save lives through engagement opportunities with TSR’s and ITSA’s world-class membership, affiliated organizations and companies;
• Influence the future of road safety technology through public-private partnerships by accessing a proving ground for new solutions via TSR’s signature Safer Roads Challenge projects around the world.
“We are excited to team up with TSR to advance the deployment of intelligent transportation technologies,” said Shailen Bhatt, president and CEO of ITS America. “Together, with our respected members, we will support platforms that save lives and improve mobility for all roadway users, including drivers, pedestrians,and cyclists.”
David Braunstein, president of TSR, added, “Globally, one size doesn’t fit all. That is especially true for today’s transportation systems, with the vision of zero deaths on the world’s roads. By partnering with ITS America, we look forward to combining our collective expertise to foster innovation that improves the health and safety for all.”
