Motive, an AI-powered integrated operations platform, announced a first-of-its-kind first responder service for commercial vehicle drivers that expedites emergency response in the event of a severe collision. 

Developed in partnership with RapidSOS, the new First Responder feature ensures drivers receive immediate help by quickly dispatching emergency services. This innovation aims to reduce fatalities and severe injuries, setting a new standard for driver safety.

When a severe collision occurs, getting emergency help can be life or death. Survival rates increase by 13% every minute first responders arrive sooner at the scene. The First Responder feature reduces the time it takes for 911 to verify incidents and helps dispatchers deploy the appropriate resources faster, providing drivers with urgent care more quickly.

"First Responder transforms the way we support drivers in a collision and will save lives," said Shoaib Makani, co-founder and CEO of Motive. "By reducing the time it takes for 911 to verify incidents and dispatch help, we are taking a critical step toward achieving zero harm and zero preventable accidents, keeping everyone on the road safer."

High-performing driver safety starts with accurate detection. Motive's AI detects 99% of severe collisions within seconds. Motive's safety team of over 400 experts reviews each safety event video to confirm the collision and eliminate false positives, ensuring only verified incidents trigger alerts. Now, Motive's new First Responder feature:

• Improves the speed and accuracy of emergency response by programmatically sharing life-saving collision data — such as vehicle location, driver name, make, model, license plate, and other important information — directly with first responders.

• Shares live updates through the Motive Dashboard and Fleet App, ensuring safety managers have clear visibility and know that first responders have been notified.

• Provides a priority phone number to allow customers to bypass long wait times and immediately connect with emergency dispatchers near the collision site.

"I cannot overstate the importance of a technology that initiates rapid emergency response," said Jared Whitson, director of safety for the Bennett Family of Companies. "The preservation of life and the prevention of further injury depends on seconds, not minutes. Motive's AI-powered collision detection and First Responder will bring an essential layer of safety to drivers and give organizations confidence that accurate information is provided to emergency services. This technology will set a new standard for the industry."

"Roadway safety has been a priority for RapidSOS since its inception, and our partnership with Motive significantly strengthens how we improve safety," said Michael Martin, CEO and co-founder of RapidSOS. "This new capability closes a critical safety gap by helping 911 identify emergencies faster and providing more intelligence to first responders, which helps them arrive faster and more informed."

Nearly 50,000 road fatalities occurred last year, an all-time high. New Motive data reveals that the holiday season is especially dangerous for commercial drivers. In 2023, there was a 32% increase in commercial vehicle crash rates on Christmas Day compared to the rest of December, with a 10% increase in speeding incidents during the week leading up to the holiday. 

Christmas ranked as the most dangerous holiday for crashes, followed by Martin Luther King Jr. Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving—highlighting the dangers of winter months. Inclement weather further increases risks, with 65.5% of Christmas collisions occurring on wet or snowy roads.

Motive customers can leverage powerful, accurate AI to monitor and protect drivers. New AI-powered enhancements to Motive's Driver Safety product target driver fatigue, contributing to nearly 100,000 accidents, 800 fatalities, and 50,000 injuries annually. 

Motive's AI-powered Drowsiness Detection identifies early and late signs of drowsy driving, including frequent yawning and eyes closed. Additionally, the new Forward Collision Warning AI helps prevent rear-end crashes, which account for 29% of all collisions, by alerting drivers when they approach another vehicle too quickly.