Tennessee Highway Patrol

NASHVILLE –– The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) utilizes cognitive analytics which helps to reduce traffic fatalities in Tennessee. Did you know that there are more than 26,000 people that died on America’s roads in 2015, making last year one of the worst for roadway fatalities in the past decade. It’s a disturbing trend, especially considering all the safety features in modern cars. But the statistics aren’t universally grim.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is cracking down on impaired driving, enforcing seat belt laws, and employing cognitive analytics to help reduce traffic accidents and fatalities, and to improve roadway safety. The IBM system that was designed with THP and incorporates historical crash data and external systems data, like weather forecasts and special event schedules, to create a real-time probability heat map that suggests where incidents will likely occur.

Colonel Tracy Trott said, the system has helped reduce Tennessee roadway fatalities to levels not seen since 1963 and it’s changing the way troopers work. The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s culture has shifted, says Trott, from “patrol and respond” to “anticipation and prevention.” THP is driving you to view a pod cast recorded by Col. Trott! Please visit iTunes; however this is also available on the soundcloud.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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