(July 2, 2015) –In today’s busy world, there’s no time to waste. Whether making the annual vacation sojourn or the daily trip to the office - no one wants to sit in traffic. The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) reminds drivers to take the opportunity to “Know Before You Go” by calling 511 or by visiting www.md511.org .

Maryland’s 511 service is free and provides real-time traffic alerts for commutes or summer road trips. Visit MD511.org to sign up for MY511 to personalize and customize trips for automatic texts and emails with information about travel time, construction projects, traffic incidents and delays.

“If you are traveling on Maryland roadways, 511 is your best tool to save time, fuel costs and frustrations,” said SHA Acting Administrator Douglas Simmons. “We urge everyone to use this 511 safely – Maryland law prohibits using hand-held devices while driving. Please access 511 prior to your trip, have a passenger call or use it hands-free with voice commands.  SHA wants all travelers to reach their destinations safely.”

 

Personalize traffic information and travel times with My511, a feature of the www.MD511.org web site, where you can create a personal profile and set up designated “trips,” (i.e. from home to work or from home to beach). Thereafter, you’ll receive emails or text messages with customized traffic updates.  You can also designate specific camera views of most interest to you – short cutting to those most important to your commute.  In your profile you may choose to include commonly used phone numbers, so when you call 511 you are recognized and offered tailored information to bypass the general menu prompts.

The 511 system is available every day, anytime. Traffic data from a variety of traffic information sources including the Coordinated Highway Action Response Team (CHART) program is released to the public, real-time, through the automated telephone line, website, and social networking outlet Twitter. 511 is the travel companion everyone needs before heading out this summer. Get Set! Get Ready! Know…then Go!