511 Traffic Systems

Background

The U.S. Department of Transportation, with the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, developed the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to increase traffic efficiency and safety on the nation's roadways.

The ITS gathers information about almost everything that can impair the ability of motorists to arrive at their destination safely and smoothly, such as detours, accidents, road closures, poor weather conditions, and dangerous roadway surfaces.

511 Access

The master plan was to have a national system in which individuals throughout the country could simply dial 511 on their cell or landline phones and access this information. However, like many plans, this one has been slow to unfold. Much of the country, including Delaware, is still waiting to have the service activated in their state.

The service is free(unless you order additional features), and the information is much more detailed than you'd get from a local television or radio traffic report. Some areas offer additional services, such as allowing you to check airport conditions.

Motorists can test out the service when traveling through states that deploy it. After dialing 511, just follow the voice instructions to access the information you're seeking. Some states also have Web sites which allow you to review the information online.