Before you start your daily commute, you can now look up what traffic collisions or roadway hazards to avoid directly on your mobile device. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has launched a new mobile application that provides real-time updates on where officers are responding along California’s roadways. Continuously updated around the clock, the traffic reports include incident time, location and whether it involves a collision, traffic hazard or lane obstruction.
“By using this application, motorists will be able to choose an alternate route to get where they’re going and avoid the congested area,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “This will help reduce frustration on the part of motorists stuck in traffic and possibly lessen the number of vehicles moving through the incident area.”
Commissioner Farrow cautioned that the mobile app should only be used by a driver who is parked or by a passenger in a moving vehicle. California law prohibits motorists from reading, writing or sending a text message, or operating a mobile computing device while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.
“Before heading out of the office or home, or while you’re waiting to pick up your child from school or after an appointment, motorists can get real time traffic information through this portable app,” Farrow said. “It’s a valuable tool, but it must be used safely.”
The new mobile app is a great way for California motorists, while they are safely parked, or their passengers while they’re on the road, to stay updated on road hazards throughout the state, including: Bakersfield, Barstow, the Bay Area, Bishop, Chico, El Centro, Fresno, Humboldt, Indio, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Orange County, Redding, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stockton, Susanville, Truckee, Ukiah, Ventura and Yreka.
The application works on most devices, including the Android, iPhone, Blackberry and others. To view the site from a mobile device, please visit http://m.chp.ca.gov.
Source: CHP Launches Mobile App for Real-Time Traffic Conditions, California Highway Patrol Press Release, June 16, 2010
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