Texas Using WiFi to Encourage Driving Breaks

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.

Comments

Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops?

[cyb3rllama]

"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!

Re:Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops?

[peeping_Thomist]

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!

Re:Free Wireless Pr0n At Rest Stops?

[Amarok.Org]

I live in Texas and travel a fair bit.

For the most part, the rest stops in Texas are well maintained, well lighted, clean, and generally very comfortable places to take a break. I wouldn't have any problem stopping at a Texas rest stop to check my e-mail, etc, any more that I would in ANY reasonably public place. If it's dark and you're alone, you'd be stupid to leave yourself vulnerable - rest area or no.

I love the ad campaign

[Anonymous Coward]

Rest stops: Not just for anonymous sex anymore!

Great!

[eln]

Now the long-haul truckers will stay up all night at the rest stop surfing the web instead of sleeping.

Personally, when I go on long trips, I don't like to stop at the rest stops any longer than necessary. They are, for the most part, not terribly pleasant places to spend a pleasant afternoon. If I want to take a longer break, I'll find a restaurant or a park in the nearest podunk town.

Re:Maybe this is a bad idea...

[eln]

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.

Re:Free hacking spots

[haystor]

You've got it wrong:

Welcome to Texas State

Login: root
Pass: *

Re:I hate to say it but...

[singularity]

What percentage of sleepy people are there going to be on the road traveling in Texas that have a computer on them with wifi access and really want to stop to use it? Dunno, but probably not many.

You know nothing about truck drivers, do you?

rest stops vary quite a bit

[timothy]

In some states, they're dirty and usually sort of creepy. (Arkansas has some of these.)

In some places they're functional (I'm thinking of the turnpike plazas along the DC-NYC corridor), with fast food, usually working restrooms, gas stations. Not a place to spend much time, and I know that at least some of the NJ ones have a 2-hour limit, so not a good place -- not just for that reason! -- for a nap.

In some places they're actually friendly; the big state-entry ones in Tennesee, Colorado and Texas, for instance. Since I prefer to travel by car vs. airplane when possible, I've hit a lot of bad ones and a lot of good ones; Texas is high on the Good list in my experience. Also, Texas has a fair number of no-facilities parking rest stops out in the sticks, where there might be a few shaded picnic tables -- if fatigue creeps up, these are (literally) lifesavers when on rural roads with few places to stop. And free WiFi? Hey, even better :)

timothy