Strategy #47
Provide Real-time Information to Drivers
Technology is being developed to provide real-time information about crashes, construction, inclement weather, or other conditions that contribute to congestion, additional collisions, lost productivity, and air pollution.
Background
Millions of people take to the highways every day. All too often, they are caught in traffic jams, which contribute to collisions, lost productivity, and air pollution. When drivers obtain real-time information about congestion, collisions, fog, heavy rain, snow, or fog, they may be able to adjust their travel plans to avoid problem areas.
Actions
- Investigate and support public/private partnerships that make use of the Internet, variable message signs, cellular phones, and the media to provide up-to-the-minute travel information to drivers before and during their commutes.
- Look into making up-to-the-minute information available to commercial drivers via computers at truck stops and inspection (weigh) stations.
- Support providing alternate route information to help drivers avoid congestion.
- Support making transportation management centers or communications centers the “hub” for providing real-time information.
Benefits
- Drivers can plan their trips to avoid congestion.
- Reduced collisions and numbers of people killed and injured in them.
- Improved air quality as the result of improved traffic flow.
- Less lost productivity that results from people sitting in traffic.
Other Considerations
- Cost of the technology.
- Increased skills, expertise and training for personnel to support and operate.
- Accuracy and reliability of technology.