 | Cash Flow | | How you can save money with NAVTEQ Traffic.com | | | 
According to a study by the Texas Transportation Institute, American drivers burn 3.9 billion gallons of gas a year sitting in traffic jams, wasting $115 billion (and more, given today's skyrocketing pump prices)*. This is more than double the time squandered in congestion 25 years ago. 
Short of adding more highway capacity, here's what can be done to save time and money. - Share: Ride sharing is a proven way of reducing your costs while helping to reduce traffic for everyone. Team up with friends, neighbors and coworkers.
- Shift: Take advantage of any flextime or telecommuting programs to stay off the roads during rush hour.
- Plan: Plan your route so you don't get lost - one easy way to do this is to use a navigation system. A NAVTEQ Benefit Study found that navigation systems improve routing efficiency by an average of 12%, leading to fuel savings of $330 annually**.
- Register: Register your daily commute with NAVTEQ Traffic.com to receive free mobile alerts when unexpected congestion crops up along your routes.
It may not be possible to avoid traffic jams altogether, but taking advantage of all the opportunities available promises to reduce your share of the country's staggering traffic jam waste. * Texas Transportation Institute. Available at: http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/media_information/press_release.stm
** NAVTEQ Navigation Benefits Study (2009) Fuel costs used in Fuel Study Calculations: Petrol, $3.85 per gallon / Diesel, $4.09 per gallon. All of these figures are for the month of April, 2011. | | Road Connections | 
| Finding WiFi on the highway Smart digital devices make it far easier to access the Internet when you are not at home. But if you don't have one, can't get online or can't find a signal, then what? | | | Publicly available WiFi hotspots are proliferating across the country. Here's how to find one close to you*: - Fast Connections with Fast Food: Many coffee shops and fast food restaurants, including McDonald's, now offer free WiFi inside. Outlets aren't readily available, however, so make sure your battery is charged.
- Find a Hotel: Virtually all hotels now have WiFi in common areas as well as guest rooms. However, many charge an access fee, require a guest code, or both.
- Find a Library (or any government building): Most libraries now offer free WiFi, and a comfortable place to sit and check your email. If the library is closed, try the local town hall. Many also now have free wireless connections.
- Use a WiFi Finder: These widely available devices scan the airwaves for the presence of WiFi signals. Most devices have their own power supply, so you can find a reliable connection without draining your laptop battery (a great advantage of WiFi scanning software).
- Plan Ahead: Taking advantage of WiFi when you have it to search for solutions when you think you might not. A number of online hotspot directories are available, mapping the location of both secure and protected WiFi hotspots; there are also mobile apps that help you search for hotspots like JiWire.
With more and more public and private organizations offering free and open Internet access, and even entire cities turning into hotspots, it may soon be hard to find places you can't get online. Until then, with a little ingenuity you can still find a reliable connection in all but the more remote corners of the country. * Available at: http://www.voip-sol.com/10-tips-for-finding-wifi-on-the-road/ | | Beating Beach Traffic | | | If you are headed to the beach this summer, you're not alone. Millions of others will be, too - making it near impossible to avoid congestion along the way during peak season. Here are some options to avoid the worst of the worst traffic. 
Timing is everything The worst holiday traffic is on the Friday and Monday evenings. If possible, take a day off and shift your weekend up, or back, a day. If that's not possible, leave a little earlier or later than the crowds. The same principle applies to day trips. Most beaches start filling up in the late morning and emptying out before sunset. There's less traffic early in the morning, and you'll get a better spot on the beach if you are there by 9:00 a.m. Be traffic savvy Check NAVTEQ Traffic.com before you leave home to see current conditions and learn about obstacles that may cause traffic later. That's particularly important on exceptionally busy days, like Memorial Day weekend. You can also check for updates on the road: - Visit the NAVTEQ Traffic.com mobile website on your cell phone or smart phone at http://mobi.traffic.com/. The site is free, and the information can be invaluable.
- Save 1-866-MY-TRAFC (1-866-698-7232) to a phone favorites list before leaving home. This free hotline provides speed dial access to NAVTEQ Traffic.com voice traffic reports - ideal for avoiding heavy traffic, construction, and accidents on your long weekend trip.
- Send a SMS text message to get real-time traffic information for city hotspots. Simply text your CITY CODE, (NY, CHIC, PHL, LA, etc.) to TRAFC (87232). City codes can be found at http://bhelp.traffic.com/city-codes-used-for-sms/ - ideal for getting instant traffic information.
Slow and steady wins the race On the busiest holiday weekends, you can count on increased highway patrols around all of the most popular beaches, so skip the last lingering look at the sunset-and also skip the cocktail hour-to hit the road early and sober. The latter is particularly important since 40% of all holiday weekend accidents are alcohol - related.* With some good timing, good judgment and a little help from NAVTEQ Traffic.com, you can enjoy a day at the beach without hours stuck in traffic. Just plan early, drive carefully and have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. * Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Available at:
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/08/nhtsa-madd-unveil-enforcement-against-impaired-driving-campaign.html | |  | Major Construction Near | | Major Cities Highlights of the Spring construction season | | | 
As Spring turns to Summer, the grass grows greener, the birds are chirping and the sounds of road construction fill the air. In major cities across the country, and many places in between, Summer is prime time for patching up major roads... and causing some major traffic snarls in the process. Here's a sample of some of the projects that may impact your commute. For more, check your routes on NAVTEQ Traffic.com. EAST COAST: BOSTON: I-93 in both directions from Exit 33 to Exit 31.
PHILADELPHIA: I-476 in both directions from the PA Turnpike toll plaza to I-76.
WASHINGTON D.C.: I-495 Capital Beltway in Virginia on both the inner and outer loops from Springfield interchange to the Dulles Toll Rd.
BALTIMORE: I-695 Beltway in both directions to widen Beltway overpass of Frederick Rd. MIDWEST: MINNEAPOLIS: US-169 and I-494 interchange in both directions from Anderson Lakes Pkwy to Valley View Rd.
DETROIT: M-39 Southfield Freeway in both directions from the M-10 Lodge Freeway to I-94.
CHICAGO: Wacker Dr. in both directions from Lake to Madison.
ST. LOUIS: I-55 and I-55 in Delor in both directions. SOUTHWEST/MOUNTAIN: PHOENIX: I-10 in both directions from Sunland Gin Rd to Sunshine Blvd.
DALLAS/FT. WORTH: IH-635 LBJ Freeway both directions from Luna Rd to Greenville Ave; and IH-35E Stemmons Freeway from Loop 12 to Valwood Pkwy.
MIAMI: I-595 in both directions from the Sawgrass Expressway interchange to I-95.
HOUSTON: US 290 in both directions from I-610 (west loop) to West of Mueschke Rd.
DENVER: I-25 in both directions from Sante Fe to 6th Ave. WEST COAST: LOS ANGELES: I-405 in both directions from I-10 to the 101 Frwy.
SAN FRANCISCO: Hwy-1 at Devil's Slide (Devil's Slide Tunnel Project) in both directions from Pedro Terrace Rd in Pacifica to 2nd St in Montara.
SEATTLE: Hwy-99 in both directions from Holgate Ave to Denny Way. | | Oh Canada | | Navigating the North Country | | | Looking for a different kind of road trip? How about visiting our neighbors to the north this Summer? From quaint fishing villages to soaring mountains vistas to charming city neighborhoods, Canada has hundreds of great tourist destinations within a relatively short drive of the U.S. border. If you are thinking about driving, here are a few things to keep in mind: 
General driving conditions: The main roads in Canada are on par with those in the United States. You'll have no problems finding fuel, food and hotels, and the roads are well marked. If you are travelling on secondary roads in more remote areas, make sure you fill up where you can. An up-to-date navigation system is always a good idea, particularly if you are venturing beyond the most populated areas. Paperwork: Your U.S. driver's license is valid in Canada, whether you are driving your own vehicle or renting one there. You may also need to show your car registration at the border*. You will need a valid passport to cross the border from Canada back into the U.S. The Law: Throughout Canada, all passengers must wear seatbelts while driving and children must be in a safety seat. Driving under the influence laws are strictly enforced, and Canadian police will occasionally conduct random checks for drunk drivers. Traveling with children: An adult traveling with a child, who is not his or her own, must have a written note from the child's parent or guardian giving them permission to leave the country. While not strictly required, it's a good idea for a solo parent to also have a note from the child's other parent. Crossing the border: Near the most popular tourist sites, like Niagara Falls, border crossing can take a considerable amount of time. Think about crossing early in the morning, or late at night. When you get there, help keep the line moving by having your paperwork ready. Answer questions simply and promptly. Border agents do not want to chat with you and will not find your joke about the moose in the trunk to be funny. Canada is a beautiful country and Summer is a great time to visit. With a little planning, your Summer trip north could easily be one of the best road trips you've ever had. * Available at:
http://gocanada.about.com/od/faqscrossingtheborde1/p/border_tips.htm | | Is Your Car Road-trip Ready? | | Five things to check before you checkout | | | Before you head out for your Summer road trip, make sure that your vehicle can stand the heat. Here are a few simple precautions that can help you travel more safely and efficiently: Check hoses and fan belts
Summer heat makes it harder to keep the engine cool. Make sure that the hoses connected to the radiator are in good shape, and the belts that run the fan are not showing signs of wear. Also, check the radiator coolant levels regularly, particularly on older cars. Test tires
If you haven't changed your tires recently, check the tread by putting a penny in the groove. If you can see Lincoln's head, it's time to have them looked at by a pro. Also make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Improper tire pressure wastes gas and causes premature wear. Keep a tire gauge in your car and check the pressure frequently. If you don't know the proper pressure, look in your driver's manual, or check the sticker on the driver's side doorframe. Change oil and filters
Long Summer road trips can place a strain on your engine. It's a good idea to change your oil and filters before you head out on any longer trips. Who wants to spend vacation time sitting in a garage? Replace tired batteries
Did you know that Summer is actually tougher on car batteries than Winter? Summer heat can speed up the chemical reaction inside a battery and evaporate battery fluid. Ask your service station to perform a load test on your battery, and replace it if needed. Have your air conditioning inspected
The most common cause of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit is a low level of refrigerant. This could be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. If your system isn't pumping cold air, have it checked at your service station. So, take a few minutes to make sure your car is Summer-ready, and spend your road trips on the road and out of the breakdown lane. Source:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/summer-car-maintenance.htm | |
