5-1-1 facts for kids

5-1-1 is a special phone number in the United States and some parts of Canada. It's made to be easy to remember. People can dial this number from a landline or a mobile phone to get helpful information about traffic and travel. It helps drivers and travelers know what's happening on the roads.

Why Was 5-1-1 Created?

Before 5-1-1, there were over 300 different phone numbers for traffic and travel information. This was very confusing for people! Imagine trying to remember a different number for every city or state.

To make things simpler, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) asked for a special, easy-to-remember number. They asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an N11 code. These codes are special three-digit numbers like 9-1-1 for emergencies or 4-1-1 for directory assistance.

On July 21, 2000, the FCC made 5-1-1 the official national phone number for travel information. This meant that no matter where you were in the United States or parts of Canada, you could dial 5-1-1 to get local traffic updates. This made it much easier for everyone to find out about road conditions, accidents, or construction before they traveled.

Images for kids

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  A road sign showing the 5-1-1 logo

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  The 5-1-1 logo on a road sign

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  FasTrak antennae that collect data for 511.org traffic information in San Francisco