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Traffic jams are a problem all year, but they seem to peak around the holidays, particularly around airports and shopping malls. Around the end of the year, the roads become packed with shoppers and holiday travelers. When combined with the stress many people feel around this time of year, driving is especially dangerous. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently developed a mobile application called Know Before You Go, which uses GPS tracking and map technology to inform drivers about traffic conditions. That way, people can avoid traffic jams if possible, or at least be more prepared for delays.

“We are constantly working to have a zero-fatality transportation system and [the program] is a key component of that plan,” said Ananth Prasad, FDOT Secretary. “Knowing about what’s ahead on the road can help travelers stay calm, make wise decisions and even choose a less congested route.” The app is available for the iPhone, iPod and iPad, and uses GPS tracking information to provide traffic conditions within 200 miles of their route.

Congested areas are indicated with a red pin, and even displays video of the jam wherever possible. Users are also encouraged to report unlisted traffic jams to the FDOT through a voice file. The GPS tracking technology of the user’s phone automatically sends the exact location data to the department.

Police and FDOT developers stress the “Before You Go” instruction in the title. Using the app while driving is dangerous, and at the very least, could result in a ticket. “I always recommend ‘Know Before You Go,’” said 511 Public Information Officer Vicky Mixson. “It’s important that people are not distracted when they’re driving. We always say look at the app before you leave, or have a passenger do it.” According to Mixson, the app has already been downloaded an estimated 25 thousand times. She predicts that the app is the future of personal traffic management, saying “It’s the next wave of how traffic information should be decimated.

Photo By Sebamirum Via Flickr Creative Commons