(November 21, 2014) –Don’t let Thanksgiving traffic make you late for dinner! Whether traveling through the State to grandma’s house or around the beltway to your favorite shopping centers, 511 can help guide and keep you on course for predictable, informed Thanksgiving holiday travel.  The days leading up to and after the holiday bring more  cars on Maryland’s roadway network, and 511 can assist with safe travel by informing drivers of major incidents, delays, estimated travel times and weather conditions.  Call 511 or visit md511.org for current road conditions; register for my Maryland 511 and receive text messages and emails with updates on your planned route.

While 511 is one ingredient in safe roadway travel, so is following the rules of the road.  The State Highway Administration (SHA) reminds Marylanders of newer laws in effect, including no handheld phone use or texting while driving and the requirement for everyone to wear seat belts - all seats, all ages – from Grandma to grandchild.  As you finalize plans with out of town visitors, please ensure that they are familiar with Maryland’s seat belt law.

“As we head into one of the busiest time periods on our road system, State Highway Administration remains committed to providing safe and smooth travel for Marylanders and our State’s visitors,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “Whether you’re taking to the road or staying put and hosting family and friends from out of town this holiday, SHA urges you to plan carefully, focus on driving when behind the wheel, remember that seat belts save lives and that everyone needs to buckle up – even in the back seat.”

SHA is preparing to help make travel more safe and less stressful for motorists by suspending all non-emergency roadwork on SHA-maintained roadways between Wednesday, November 26 at 9 a.m. and Monday morning, December 1at 9 a.m. Additionally, SHA will send out extra emergency traffic patrols along metropolitan interstates in search of stranded motorists to help them on their way and prevent delay for other travelers.

SHA’s CHART (Coordinated Highways Action Response Team) operators will closely monitor and disseminate critical highway information to motorists and first responders. Citizens can view hundreds of live traffic cameras as well by logging onto the CHART website at www.roads.maryland.gov and clicking on CHART or www.MD511.org. These operators, located at the Statewide Operations Center (SOC) and several regional Traffic Operations Centers (TOCs), monitor traffic 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Even with SHA’s best efforts, crashes and disabled vehicles will undoubtedly affect travel next week. Please do your part to keep roadways incident-free and preserve the holidays as a time for celebration.

• Drive focused – Maryland law prohibits hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving. The new law makes hand held mobile phone use a primary offense.

• Buckle up! Seat belts are your number one defense in a crash. Maryland law now requires that everyone, in all seating positions – including the back seat – wear seat belts.

• Move over to an adjacent travel lane away from emergency personnel - Maryland law requires it. The best practice is to move over and slow down for road crews and disabled motorists as well.

• Travel during off peak hours and allow extra time for unexpected delays. Take a map or GPS device should you need to detour around an incident.

• Check your vehicle’s lights, tires, battery and windshield wipers for proper operation. Make sure fluid levels are good.

• Slow down and pay attention, avoiding distractions such as cell-phone use, changing CDs and eating. Observe all posted speed limits.

• Never drink and drive! Designate a sober driver.

• Travelers with cellular phones can dial #77 or 911 to report suspected aggressive or drunk drivers or disabled vehicles.

• In the unfortunate case that you are involved in a minor crash, please safely move your vehicle from the travel lanes – it is Maryland’s law.

• The National Click it or Ticket campaign will be underway; police will enforce seat belt laws.

• Place children in the proper child safety seats.

• See and be seen. Maryland State Law requires the use of headlights while windshield wipers are in use.

• Wet road surfaces are not ideal and require particularly attentive driving.

• Slow down, increase your distance between the vehicles in front of you, avoid distractions and drive defensively.

• In the event that there is a dark traffic signal without power, each driver must come to a complete stop at the intersection before proceeding, also required by law.

• Be on the lookout for deer crossing roadways as it is nearing the end of the mating season. “Never Veer for Deer.”