In order to help you and those around you travel safe on wet roads this season, keep the following in mind:

• Exercise caution. Drive defensively by adjusting your speed to the present road conditions.
• Allow for more travel time. Plan to drive slower and anticipate traffic delays.
• Brake earlier and with less force. This will reduce the chance of a collision with the drivers around you.
• Avoid using cruise control. The cruise control feature could cause your vehicle to accelerate when you are hydroplaning.
• Turn your headlights on. It helps you see the road, and helps other motorists see you as well.
• If you hydroplane, don’t brake suddenly or turn the wheel. Instead, release the gas pedal slowly and keep the steering wheel straight until the car regains traction. This will help you avoid skidding.

Of course even when abiding by these strategies, accidents do happen. If you find yourself in need of non-emergency roadside assistance on San Diego freeways, simply dial 5-1-1 from your mobile phone and say “Roadside assistance”. Doing so will connect you with a trained dispatcher who can ensure that you receive the appropriate aid and will stay on the line until such help has arrived.

Remember, we currently have a Gas Card Giveaway going on our website! Visit today to learn more about the contest today! Winners announced every Friday. Good luck!

With countless San Diego residents and visitors traveling during this busy holiday season, car trouble is inevitable.  But even though possible unrelenting disasters may strike again this holiday season, you’re in luck! If you get caught with a flat tire or your car breaks down with the in-laws in the backseat—MAKE SURE YOU CALL 5-1-1.

We can give you the best advice if you’re planning on traveling this holiday

Happy Thanksgiving from SAFE 511!

season:

• Buckle Up
• Familiarize yourself with the transportation situation beforehand
• Make plans accordingly to avoid stress and frustration at the event
• Drive safely on wet roads
• Be Aware of ramp speeds when entering and exiting a highway
• Use a Safe Following Distance
• Practice the proper lane change steps
• Stay Awake
• Don’t Drink and Drive

SAFE 511 reminds drivers, that should you have an incident while driving to follow these four steps:

1. Determine where you are located by Highway number and nearest exit, or other landmark
2. Pull over to a safe place
3. Dial 511
4. Say “Roadside Assistance”

Through Mobile Call Box, San Diego drivers can now get roadside assistance from the relative safety of their vehicles on freeways and highways throughout San Diego County.  Drivers simply need to dial 5-1-1 from their cell phones to get the same helpful roadside service they have always received through our stationary call boxes. Mobile Call Box calls are designed for use in non-emergency situations such as when motorists need a tow truck, have run out of gas, or require other types of motorist aid.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the transportation situation beforehand and make plans accordingly to avoid stress and frustration at the event. Remember to have fun, be a safe and courteous driver, and although we cannot stop time and levitate your car above the freeway, SAFE 511 is always there to be your superhero on the road.

Remembering 5-1-1 this holiday season could turn a potentially traumatic experience into only a minor inconvenience.

For more information on the SAFE 511 program please visit http://www.sdcallbox.org/.

But even though possible unrelenting disasters may strike again on Halloween Night, you’re in luck! Fortunately, SAFE 511 is your superhero on the road! We can give you the best advice if you’re planning on traveling Halloween weekend:

• Buckle up
• Familiarize yourself with the transportation situation beforehand
• Make plans accordingly to avoid stress and frustration at the event
• Drive safely on wet roads
• Be aware of ramp speeds when entering and exiting a highway
• Use a safe following distance
• Practice the proper lane change steps
• Stay awake
• Don’t drink and drive

SAFE 511 reminds drivers, that should you have an incident while driving to follow these four steps:

1. Determine where you are located by Highway number and nearest exit, or other landmark
2. Pull over to a safe place
3. Dial 511
4. Say “Roadside Assistance”

Through Mobile Call Box, San Diego drivers can now get roadside assistance from the relative safety of their vehicles on freeways and highways throughout San Diego County.  Drivers simply need to dial 5-1-1 from their cell phones to get the same helpful roadside service they have always received through our stationary call boxes.

Mobile Call Box calls are designed for use in non-emergency situations such as when motorists need a tow truck, have run out of gas, or require other types of motorist aid.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the transportation situation beforehand and make plans accordingly to avoid stress and frustration at the event. Remember to have fun, be a safe and courteous driver, and although we cannot stop time and levitate your car above the freeway, SAFE 511 is always there to be your superhero on the road.

For more information on the SAFE 511 program please visit http://www.sdcallbox.org/.

While almost every business in town had to close its doors, the Call Box Answer Center maintained power and was able to connect callers to AAA, CHP rotational tow, Freeway Service Patrol or any other available assistance.  Response times were understandably longer, but at least the connection to help was made. SAFE Call Center supervisors made sure that their operators responded with the calmness and support harried drivers needed. They spoke regularly with CHP, which has backup power capability, to get the latest information on the blackout for stranded motorists. They also monitored the limited updates available on the Internet, and passed that information onto motorists.

In addition, CHP was able to be connected in real-time to the challenges of motorists by way of the Call Box system. SAFE maintains a computer Datalink with display monitors between the Call Box Answer Center and the CHP Communications Center that provides information on every fixed and mobile call box call received. The Datalink remained operational throughout the blackout, and provided one more source of information to CHP on highway conditions and incidents.

During the blackout from 3 pm to 12 am, the Call Box Answer Center received a 918 percent increase in call volume.  An average Thursday yields 11 fixed call box calls and 22 mobile call box calls, but during the blackout SAFE received 101 fixed call box calls and 74 mobile call box calls.  In total, 175 people were able to call for support and information. Motorists who ran out of gas or experienced car trouble were able to dial 5-1-1 on their cell phones and receive assistance.  For those motorists whose cell phones had no service or batteries had died, they were able to use the call boxes along the freeways to call for assistance.

Don’t hesitate to use the SAFE 511 Mobile Call Box Program during a non-emergency. Such as , being in need of a tow truck, gasoline or being transferred to AAA or California Highway Patrol. With more than 280 miles of freeway and 255 rural street highways, the Mobile Call Box Program can connect you to a trained dispatcher that will ensure you get the help that you need.

The SAFE 511 Mobile Box Program is designed to assist you in non-emergency situations.  Motorists are still instructed to call 9-1-1 to report accidents, crimes, fires or other emergency situations.

One thing nobody looks forward to is traffic. And unfortunately, Labor Day usually results in a lot of it, with thousands of drivers commuting in and out of the city. And with traffic always comes car trouble, accidents, stress, and overall frantic drivers, which inevitably can turn a weekend intended for relaxation into one full of consternation.

When you encounter problems on the road, it can often be a nerve-wracking and confusing experience. But it doesn’t have to be. All the information and assistance you need is always at your fingertips when you dial 5-1-1 for instant roadside assistance from the SAFE Mobile Call Box Program!

A free service available all over San Diego county, SAFE 5-1-1 has been keeping motorists safe and quickly getting them back on the road for years. When you dial 5-1-1 from the convenience of your own mobile phone, you are immediately connected with one of our trained and knowledgeable dispatchers, who will quickly send assistance directly to your car, without you even having to step out of your vehicle.

When faced with a non-emergency car problem on the freeway, from running out of gas to a blown tire, SAFE 5-1-1 is with you every step of the way. By dialing 5-1-1, it is easy to get in contact with the services you need, including tow trucks, the California Highway Patrol, and AAA services. There is no need to walk to a call box and no need to remember all the numbers of every car service in town—just three simple digits and you will be on your way again in no time.

But SAFE 5-1-1 doesn’t just come to your aid in times of trouble, it can help you avoid car problems altogether! By dialing 5-1-1, you can have instant access to the latest real-time updates on traffic conditions, incidents, and driving times, in addition to all the information on public transportation schedules, routes, and fares. We can even provide you with carpool, vanpool, or bicycle information. And the best part is that SAFE 5-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is totally toll-free!

Drivers in difficult situations continue to praise the efficiency of the program and the friendliness of the operators, with success story after success story being spread daily. Be sure to check out www.511sd.com for all the latest news and information about this growing and constantly-improving program.

Easy to remember and even easier to use, SAFE 5-1-1 Mobile Call Box is your effective and convenient service that continues to go above and beyond expectations. This Labor Day Weekend, remember to dial 5-1-1 whether you are in a tight spot or just trying to avoid one.

But this everyday occurrence of watching your fuel level becomes much more of a problem when your gas gauge isn’t working. And for one unlucky driver, a simple commute home from work left him stranded and alone on the side of the freeway. Miles from home or the closest gas station, and without any assistance in sight, he decided to call 5-1-1, expecting to be stuck on the phone for hours awaiting help that he wasn’t sure would even come.  But to his surprise, the operator answered immediately and was friendly and helpful, sending assistance quickly and getting him back on the road in no time.

For even the most careful of drivers, circumstances out of one’s control can often create havoc at the worst possible time. When a woman and her young son were on their way to a crucial appointment to which they could not be late, the front tire of their car blew out as they drove over an obstacle in the middle of the freeway.  She realized the dangerous situation that they were in, and after an unsuccessful attempt to call 9-1-1 placed her on hold for countless minutes, she remembered to try 5-1-1 instead. The operator responded instantly and quickly sent assistance, finishing the job rapidly and efficiently. She praised the effectiveness of the service, describing it as if an angel had come to her aid in a seemingly impossible situation.

Whether your engine breaks down, your tires blow out, your gas tank is leaking, or you dropped the couch strapped to your car in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic, SAFE 511 will be with you every step of the way. We respond to anything from running out of gas to a car accident with the utmost speed and efficiency, providing the best assistance on the road when you need it the most. Drivers all over San Diego acclaim the service as a quick and convenient way to get out of a difficult situation. We continually exceed expectations, and with our friendly and helpful operators, you are never alone on the road.

The next time you face problems on the freeway, follow the lead of countless other drivers in San Diego and remember to call 5-1-1!

For more driver testimonials, please visit our website.

Photo credit: Fooyah Entertainment

If you’re anywhere around downtown San Diego this week, you’ll find no shortage of the most evil villains, admirable superheroes, and everything in between. But Comic Con’s greatest potential disaster this week cannot be stopped by superhuman strength, powers of invisibility, or even laser vision:

Traffic.

But even though this unrelenting disaster strikes again and again at every big event, you’re in luck! Fortunately, SAFE 511 is your superhero on the road! We can give you the best advice if you’re planning on joining the adventures at Comic Con this week. SAFE 511 reminds drivers, that should you have an incident while driving to follow these four steps:

1. Determine where you are located by Highway number and nearest exit, or other landmark
2. Pull over to a safe place
3. Dial 511
4. Say “Roadside Assistance”

Through Mobile Call Box, San Diego drivers can now get roadside assistance from the relative safety of their vehicles on freeways and highways throughout San Diego County.  Drivers simply need to dial 5-1-1 from their cell phones to get the same helpful roadside service they have always received through our stationary call boxes.

Mobile Call Box calls are designed for use in non-emergency situations such as when motorists need a tow truck, have run out of gas, or require other types of motorist aid.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the transportation situation beforehand and make plans accordingly to avoid stress and frustration at the event. Remember to have fun, be a safe and courteous driver, and although we cannot stop time and levitate your car above the freeway, SAFE 511 is always there to be your superhero on the road.

For more information on the SAFE 511 program please visit http://www.sdcallbox.org/.

Check out Comic Con’s website for additional parking tips and to purchase a parking pass in advance

As one of the most populated cities in the country prepares for the 53-hour closure of the vital 405 freeway, many are worried that “Carmageddon” could become a disaster for the weekend transit. But this dreaded closure may not actually be as bad as it is hyped up to be. This could be the perfect time for some much needed relaxation at home, or time to enjoy local shops, restaurants, and scenic locations that may often be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

How far will the effects of the closed 405 reach? What will happen to the transit in San Diego? The 405 is technically called the San Diego Freeway. It’s possible that the gridlock in L.A. could have a domino effect further south, especially for San Diegans who are hoping to travel into Orange County or Los Angeles this weekend. The 405 is considered the busiest and most congested freeway in the United States, and all those cars will be forced to choose a different route. But while this closure is a major inconvenience, there are countless ways to avoid the chaos. If the people of L.A. could handle themselves before the 405 construction in 1961, we can too, especially with the infinitely larger arsenal of technological distractions we have at our disposal. Even the Los Angeles Visitors Bureau is tweeting @discover_LA 405 things to do instead of driving on the 405. Some great ideas include walking around your local area and admiring the scenery and architecture, picking up a new book, checking out the many specials that shops and restaurants are offering this weekend, or taking a scenic bike ride. Because how much better is this:

Than this:

This weekend might be crazy, so just sit tight, maybe even pick up an “I Survived Carmageddon T-Shirt”, and relax. But perhaps the best way to avoid the Carmageddon disaster is the same as the best way to avoid any disaster: stay in San Diego!