Traffic Alert!

The Problem Since 1982 The US population has increased 19%, the number of registered motor vehicles has increased 36%, and the number of miles traveled has increased 72%, however road capacity has only been increased by 5% 1 Since 1982 The US population has increased 19%, the number of registered motor vehicles has increased 36%, and the number of miles traveled has increased 72%, however road capacity has only been increased by 5% 1 Newport News / Virginia Beach commuters lose an average of about 25 hours per year due to traffic Newport News / Virginia Beach commuters lose an average of about 25 hours per year due to traffic 2 The wasted time cost Americans 5.7 billion gallons of fuel and approximately $67.5 billion ( 0.7% of the national GDP) in 2000 The wasted time cost Americans 5.7 billion gallons of fuel and approximately $67.5 billion ( 0.7% of the national GDP) in There are also smaller scale problems such as wear and tear on a vehicle, inability for a fast emergency response, road rage etc… There are also smaller scale problems such as wear and tear on a vehicle, inability for a fast emergency response, road rage etc…

Current Solutions The Virginia 610 AM traffic broadcast The Virginia 610 AM traffic broadcast VDOT Traffic Cams VDOT Traffic Cams Navigation devices that can supposedly “guide” you around traffic Navigation devices that can supposedly “guide” you around traffic

My Solution Implement a web interface that allows the user to plot their route. The user should then see the various VDOT cameras along that route on their computer Implement a web interface that allows the user to plot their route. The user should then see the various VDOT cameras along that route on their computer Each driver will have a username tied to a cell phone number, and when the user is stuck in traffic they can call/text message the system and it will text all of traffic updates along their route back to them Each driver will have a username tied to a cell phone number, and when the user is stuck in traffic they can call/text message the system and it will text all of traffic updates along their route back to them

Pros and Cons Pros This system will run in real time so that drivers get up to date information when they need it This system will run in real time so that drivers get up to date information when they need it It will be cheap and have little to no startup cost for the user It will be cheap and have little to no startup cost for the user This could easily be sold as a subscription service allowing the drivers to stop using it when they want This could easily be sold as a subscription service allowing the drivers to stop using it when they want Cons Text messaging could be made illegal in Virginia Text messaging could be made illegal in Virginia Aside from the obvious safety issues associated with cell phones and driving, this could create serious legal liability issues Aside from the obvious safety issues associated with cell phones and driving, this could create serious legal liability issues Could get expensive if the user does not have unlimited text messaging Could get expensive if the user does not have unlimited text messaging

Gratuitous Angry Driver