Introduction
Traveller information services provide essential information about road conditions, ice, weather, closures, and other information that affect decisions that travellers make while planning their trips. Such services might be implemented as phone lines such as the national '511' telephone number that has, since July 2000, been designated as the national traveller information phone number in the USA. They may also be implemented as websites which collect and disseminate the information, such as the dual-purpose 511mn.org website which provides 511 and website disseminated traveller information services to Minnesota.
Travel Advisory Systems
Traveller Advisory Systems can provide travellers and shippers with real-time information that they may need to make informed route choices. Such systems take a large number of inputs, such as road condition information from snow plow drivers, police, and municipal and provincial staff who may from time to time report on road conditions, including whether they are wet, dry, snow covered, heavy snow covered, open or closed.
