The weather can change quickly in Silver Spring, MD, especially in winter. It’s crucial to know the best ways to monitor road conditions. Before you head out on your next drive, be sure to check out some of these resources.
CHART Web
CHART Web is the official Maryland government traffic information service, and it is kept up to date with current information on traffic and all road closures. The system is accessible via the web or by dialing 511. The system monitors traffic accidents, weather conditions, construction and road work, road closures, and anything else that might interfere with your trip. There are other options for monitoring traffic conditions, but this is one of the most comprehensive in Maryland.
The system uses remote sensors, information from individual travelers and traffic reporters, cameras, and field units to compile comprehensive traffic flow, congestion, and incidents. Closed Circuit Television Cameras are used to verify information sent by the sensors, and everything is integrated through state-of-the-art intelligent transportation systems.
EzeRoad
EzeRoad is a great resource, especially for monitoring traffic conditions on I-495. The site gives you access to traffic and weather reports, DOT announcements, local news reports, cameras, and input from individual drivers. You can choose from a map view or look at individual reports. Choose the road you want to look at specifically or input “Silver Spring” and get a comprehensive look at the whole area.
Waze
This popular app is one of the most powerful for keeping track of road and trip conditions, no matter where you are in the United States. It’s so powerful because it draws information from all the “Wazers” using it. The system can instantly tell when other users ahead of you are experiencing a slowdown and will let you know.
If another route would be faster, it can calculate this quickly, much more rapidly than Google or Apple maps. It even lets you know about road obstacles, stopped cars, and the average speed on the roads you’re about to travel.
Trucker Resources
No one is more interested in the conditions of the roads than truckers, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that websites and apps aimed at truckers specifically can sometimes be much more reliable than those available for private commuters.
The catch here is that truckers don’t take a lot of back roads, so these resources can be great if you’re taking a long trip or traveling the highways around Silver Spring, but if you’re planning a back roads road trip, you might not have as much success with these. Look for the Sygic Truck Navigation, which is the most downloaded of these apps. SmartTruckRoute is another good option.
Whether you’re planning a trip to or around Silver Spring or you want to face your commute with more confidence, this list of resources from us at DARCARS Lexus of Silver Spring has you covered!
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