http://www.timesunion.com

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State introduces alerts for motorists

By CATHY WOODRUFF, Staff writer
Monday, May 19, 2008

COLONIE -- State transportation and emergency management officials today announced an electronic alert system aimed to notify motorists quickly when accidents or other unexpected incidents threaten to cause delays.

     
The TransAlert system sends brief electronic messages about the locations and expected duration of highway problems via e-mails and text messages to cell phones or Blackberries.

The state Department of Transportation will provide the free service as part of the state Emergency Management Office's NY-ALERT system, which already provides information on other types of events.

Sign up for the system by visiting http://www.nyalert.gov.

I noticed SchenectadyToday.com has a link directly to the Schenectady County Traffic incidents here: http://www.schenectadytoday.com/schenectady-county-traffic-alerts/

As well as local traffic cams: http://www.schenectadytoday.com/local-area-traffic-cams/

Great site there - for all of Schenectady

Quoted from 147

I noticed SchenectadyToday.com has a link directly to the Schenectady County Traffic incidents here: http://www.schenectadytoday.com/schenectady-county-traffic-alerts/

As well as local traffic cams: http://www.schenectadytoday.com/local-area-traffic-cams/

Great site there - for all of Schenectady

Cool!!

Just one drawback to this.  We're not supposed to be talking on our cellphones while driving, so now, we're going to have NYSDOT sending us text messages?  And what happens to this when NYS decides they need additional money and oversight over us and says no text messaging while driving (I believe this is already law in New Jersey)?  Does reading a text message constitute text messaging?  Or is it just sending?

Quoted from Kevin March

Just one drawback to this.  We're not supposed to be talking on our cellphones while driving, so now, we're going to have NYSDOT sending us text messages?  And what happens to this when NYS decides they need additional money and oversight over us and says no text messaging while driving (I believe this is already law in New Jersey)?  Does reading a text message constitute text messaging?  Or is it just sending?

Good points, however this system isn't available (technically) by SMS (aka text messaging). Yes, it's available alerts via email, but they're probably not smart enough to realize it could be abused that way.  It's mainly designed to help you plan your route.

And yes, reading a text message does constitute "text messaging" (which technically is any interaction with a keyboard capable of sending or receiving messages to/from another user or electronic service)

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State transportation and emergency management officials today announced an electronic alert system aimed to notify motorists quickly when accidents or other unexpected incidents threaten to cause delays.

here is a lesson in patience to be able to practice......and we are shoved around and shoved around and shoved around and now we will be shoved around the labyrinth, just like mice, the heck with toll increases on the thruway, increase in taxes etc----the government will 'show us the way'.......impatience on the road is impatience at the home......