New 511 service is expanding across the country and will soon be in all states. Like 911 there will be dispatchers and they will tell you what the weather is like ahead in your intended direction of travel. If there are delays, road construction or inclement weather you will know immediately. It is estimated that this service will save the lives of travelers and truck drivers; some estimates are in the neighborhood of 3000-4000 per year, not to mention the injuries, which will not occur.

Intelligent transportation systems are the wave of the future and the new 511 service staffed 24/7 is part of that plan. This 511 service will be hooked into metro traffic centers in a net-centric approach. Eventually this information will be available on in-car GPS systems. In fact your GPS may communicate with the satellite to tell others behind you the estimated time to cross thru an area or construction zone, indicated exactness of time delays. Isn’t technology great, think of how this will help save you time and keep you informed on the road ahead. We sure have come a long ways since the little black strip across the road counting traffic haven’t we?

You may already have 511 service available in your state and not even know it yet, give it a call and see, as it is already in 12 states and growing each quarter. All this is helping the flow of transportation in our civilization, think on this.

Lance Winslow

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