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Texas Using WiFi to Encourage Driving Breaks

Posted by simoniker on from the clever dept.

squidfrog writes "An AP article reports: 'To encourage drivers to take more frequent breaks, the Texas Department of Transportation wants to set up free wireless Internet access at rest stops and travel information centers. TxDOT, which says Texas is the first state to provide such free access at rest areas, began experimenting with WiFi hotspots last fall... Andy Keith, manager of TxDOT's maintenance division, said the state hopes to reduce fatigue-related accidents by encouraging drivers to stop more often.' Is public WiFi becoming a trend?" We previously mentioned this scheme a couple of weeks back, although not the motivation behind it.

19 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops? by cyb3rllama · · Score: 5, Funny

    "hopes to reduce fatigue-related accidents by encouraging drivers to stop more often."
    Bah... Increased driver fatigue and now they won't be able to get anyone to leave!

    --

    particlesphere.com - quantum
    1. Re:Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops? by DAldredge · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's Texas, most of the people you see will be packing. ;->

    2. Re:Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops? by peeping_Thomist · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would not bust out my $1300 laptop and sit around in a rest stop to browse the net unless I was packing.

      This is Texas we're talking about. All of us are packing!

      --
      Anything worth doing is worth doing badly -- G.K. Chesterton
  2. Well either that by YouGotServed · · Score: 4, Funny

    or it's gonna encourage users to download more pr0n for the long trip.

  3. I love the ad campaign by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rest stops: Not just for anonymous sex anymore!

  4. Maybe this is a bad idea... by shawn(at)fsu · · Score: 2, Funny

    For the wrong reason.

    If they had this all the way from Va to Fl, it would take me days to make it home, although everytime I get angry because X cut me off or Y was tailgating me I could pull over, play some CS and release all my anger.

    And besides this is Texas what else is their to do while driving on I-10.

    --
    500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
    1. Re:Maybe this is a bad idea... by eln · · Score: 5, Funny

      And besides this is Texas what else is their to do while driving on I-10.

      Personally, I like to set the cruise control and take a nap.

  5. Hmm, I don't know... by __aagctu1952 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Either it will make fatigued drivers stop, or it will make them learn to type really really fast as they zoom through the WiFi hotspots...

    1. Re:Hmm, I don't know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      *** Trucker1973 (trucker1973!wifi@node4.wireless.tx.us) has joined #chat
      [Trucker1973] Hey guys!
      *** Trucker1973 has left IRC ( Quit: Connection reset by peer )
      *** Trucker1973 (trucker1973!wifi@node5.wireless.tx.us) has joined #chat
      [Trucker1973] What's happening over here?
      *** Trucker1973 has left IRC ( Quit: Connection reset by peer )
      *** Trucker1973 (trucker1973!wifi@node6.wireless.tx.us) has joined #chat
      [Trucker1973] Hang on, some asshole is tailgating
      *** Trucker1973 has left IRC ( Quit: Connection reset by peer )
      *** Trucker1973 (trucker1973!wifi@node7.wireless.tx.us) has joined #chat
      [Trucker1973] That ought to teach him!
      *** Trucker1973 has left IRC ( Quit: Connection reset by peer )
      *** Trucker1973 (trucker1973!wifi@node8.wireless.tx.us) has joined #chat
      [Trucker1973] Ah, the interstate exit... Bye bye!
      *** Trucker1973 has left IRC ( Quit: Connection reset by peer )

  6. wow. by sxtxixtxcxh · · Score: 2, Funny

    in soviet russia, rest stops get wifi access from YOU.

    :P this would be kinda handy. i've several times wished i could email or IM or check my email (or mapquest :P) while driving on the interstate.

    i'm all for ubiquitous wifi :D

    [insert joke about the information superhighway here]

    --
    for a minute there, i lost myself...
    1. Re:wow. by sxtxixtxcxh · · Score: 2, Funny

      :) that's kinda the point, isn't it?

      it was a toss up between soviet russia, or "imagine a beowulf cluster of these" ;)

      --
      for a minute there, i lost myself...
  7. Re:Driving Breaks? by sxtxixtxcxh · · Score: 2, Funny

    :) that would definitely be awesome...

    i'm sure if /.ers all got together and planned something out like this ... :D

    ... but imagine road rage + lag. hmm.

    --
    for a minute there, i lost myself...
  8. Re:Maybe they should get some restrooms first by smf.ack · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is Texas man, your supposed to pee on the trees... we dont get much rain.

    Yeeha.

    Ack

  9. Re:Free hacking spots by haystor · · Score: 5, Funny

    You've got it wrong:

    Welcome to Texas State

    Login: root
    Pass: *

    --
    t
  10. Wow! by Larmal · · Score: 2, Funny

    This can only be good news for the rest stop whores... Download the porn to get you all in the mood for free while resting at the romantic, misquito flocked crosswalk illuminated rest stop sign, and then charge 200$ for a handjob. Brilliant.

  11. Tinfoil time of the month by t_allardyce · · Score: 2, Funny

    Not trying to be a privacy nut but this could easily be used to track you, if you had your laptop running in the car the service station logs could build up a map of your journey, even if you had it turned off and just used it at afew stops it could still give some decent location information. But then again, thats what wardriving is all about.. heh... ok ill stop.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  12. Track this! by cybermint · · Score: 2, Funny

    Public accessible wifi becoming popular? Just try and track me now RIAA!

  13. Re:Dangerous for security reasons. by switcha · · Score: 2, Funny
    A rest stop in the middle of nowhere is really the last place you should lose situational awareness.

    No, not the middle of nowhere, the middle of Texa... oh, wait.

    (Easy, longhorns...I lived there...)

    --
    You know what? ... A little club soda *did* get that out!
  14. Safer? Perhaps not. by cra · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wife: How about we pull over here and get some rest so that we don't get in an accident from fatigue?
    Husband: OK
    Wife: I think I'll have a nap.
    Husband: OK
    Wife: ZZZZZZZzzzzzz
    Husband: *Flips open notebook* Ahh... WiFi....
    Wife: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz
    Husband: Finally I can download all kinds of weird porn, and nobody can find out it was me. . .
    Wife: ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
    Husband: Oh, a live hidden web-cam in the girl dormatory! Cool! I'll give it five more minutes. . .
    Wife: ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz
    Husband: Ok, I'll take a nap now. Oh, wait! That hot redhead is going in the shower! Just two more minutes. . .
    Wife: Yaaawwwnnnn..... 'Morning, honey.
    Husband: *Smacks lid on notebook shut* Uh... Umm... 'Morning.... I was just using my notebook for a pillow, by the way.
    Wife: Should we get going again?
    Husband: Sure. (Thinking: I can stay awake for another 24 hours, no problem.)
    Husband: ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    Truck horn: BBBWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR
    Wife: EEEEEeeeeeee
    Trucker: G*d d**n!
    Wife:
    Husband:
    Paramedic 1: Bag 'em!
    Paramedic 2: Things really got bysy after they put up them thar antennas at all the rest stops, I'll say.

    --
    This message has been ROT-13 encrypted twice for higher security.