SRTMC helps drivers avoid winter driving challenges

The first snow of the season is in the forecast this week, which means ice and dangerous driving conditions aren’t far behind. The Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center (SRTMC) website can help you navigate wintery area roads, and avoid situations such as backups caused by accidents and road closures. The SRTMC website, at www.srtmc.org, lets users know areas to avoid right away when they log on. A map on the home page shows trouble spots and provides a description of each issue identified, such as whether it is caused by an accident or construction. Users can also customize the site to highlight their commute route. The website is a high-tech, real-time site with information for all of Spokane County. 24-hours a day you can watch over 70 live traffic cameras, read about incidents and events that are automatically updated as they happen, and be alerted to road closures and delays in order to plan your commute to avoid backups and dangerous areas. The SRTMC site is particularly helpful in winter, when drivers can log on before leaving home or work to make sure their route is clear. SRTMC staff monitor the traffic cameras to identify any trouble areas and alert the proper authorities before a minor problem becomes a major backup. SRTMC staff is in close contact with Washington State Patrol, the Washington State Department of Transportation Incident Response Vehicles, and other agencies that deal with emergency response. For those who prefer to use the phone over the internet, incidents and alerts that are posted on the SRTMC site are also available by dialing 5-1-1 from most phones. Updated every few minutes, 511 allows callers to get information such as statewide construction and incident information, mountain pass conditions, information on the state’s ferry system, and weather information.