Community Corner
How to Avoid Fourth of July Traffic
A number of mobile apps can help you avoid Georgia's most congested roadways this weekend.
With more than 41 million nationwide people expected to travel over the Fourth of July weekend according to AAA, traffic and congestion are sure to be an issue.
If you don’t want to travel at 3 a.m. to avoid traffic, a variety of mobile apps can help you avoid the area’s most congested roadways.
The Google Maps mobile app now includes traffic congestion information as an overlay on the standard map, with green indicating no congestion, red indicating significant congestion and red-and-black stripes indicating near-gridlock conditions.
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Bing maps allow you to get directions you can adjust based on traffic, so the map will show you the least congested route to get you from Point A to Point B. Click on the “view route based on traffic” option.
Although GA511, a site from the Georgia Department of Transportation, does not have its own mobile app, GA511 is on Twitter (@NaviGAtor511) and GA511 is on Facebook. In addition, www.511ga.org is mobile-friendly.
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The Google Maps app data is powered in part by Waze, which has its own app. Also available in your app store: INRIX, a traffic app you can save your route on to receive relevant alerts in addition to viewing real-time traffic maps.
AAA data indicates that of the more-than 41 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from home over Independence Day weekend nationally, 80 percent are traveling by car. That’s an increase of almost 2 percent over Fourth of July weekend in 2013, and a 14 percent increase over Memorial Day weekend this year.
A recent Safeco Insurance survey focusing on aggressive driving behavior revealed the Atlanta metro ranked third in a survey of drivers across 10 large U.S. cities. The survey categorized “discourteous” driving as tailgating, using their horn and yelling or gesturing at other drivers in an aggressive manner, according to the survey.
There’s no telling yet if the “Slow Poke” law, which took effect Tuesday, July 1, will help. The law requires drivers to move out of the left lane on four-lane highways if speedier traffic approaches from behind. It is designed to help traffic flow more smoothly and decrease tailgating incidents.
