Help Available While Traveling in Texas

Traffic jams and airport lines that don’t move can give even the most seasoned traveler a bad case of the holiday blues.

While there are no guarantees for a trouble-free trip two toll-free numbers and a Web site could help make your holiday travel a little brighter.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Web site: www.txdot.state.tx.us and its toll-free number (800) 452-9292 provide information about current traffic conditions all across the state.  If you are traveling and want to know road conditions in the Texas Panhandle or in East Texas you may call the toll-free number while you drive and receive highway condition updates.

Highway conditions however are only the tip of the information iceberg. Access the TxDOT’s Web site and click on “Travel.”   You will find a host of valuable information with only a few clicks of your mouse.

For example the Web site has links to traffic cameras in the major cities which can help drivers choose a route for a morning commute a last-minute shopping trip or a hurried trip to the airport.  There also are city-to-city mileage guides as well as links to such driving direction aids as MapQuest and Yahoo Maps.

There also are links to airports from Amarillo to Harlingen and points in between that provide the latest flight information for arriving and departing flights.  The link to the San Antonio International Airport for example brings up flight arrival and departure boards direct from the airport.

Other services available on the Web site include tourism information safety rest area locations accommodation guides public campground locations and a year round events calendar.

Links to bus routes also may be found on the Web site as well as information about ferries that operate along the Texas Coast.         

While the TxDOT Web site can help you plan your trip and provide information for you along the way in spite of the best laid plans mishaps do occur.

Drivers involved in accidents know to call 9-1-1 but who do you call if your car breaks down and you don’t have an automobile service or if you see an obstacle in the roadway that could be dangerous to other drivers?  The answer is printed on the back of your driver’s license.

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s toll-free number (800) 525-5555 should be used to report non-life threatening situations such as a stranded motorist an obstacle in the road another car driving erratically or suspicious activity. 

Please be aware that in the case of a stranded motorist DPS does not send out a tow truck at the state’s expense.  DPS will assist stranded motorists or send local law officers to help but if a tow truck is needed motorists are responsible for the cost incurred.

Although there are no guarantees in travel pre-planning and an awareness that help is available can lessen the stress that sometimes comes with holiday travel.