The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL, January fourth, with the latest sources of driving intelligence.

Winter has ended the annual construction barrel season in most parts of the U.S., but foggy banks and icy storms can turn always normally hectic highways into white-knuckle parking lots. Whenever you leave home, it helps to have an idea of what kind of roadblocks you're likely to encounter. When you know the weather's bad or construction delays likely, you can take appropriate precautions, select an alternate route or allow for extra travel time.

Lots of driving information is easily available, from AAA Triptiks to local radio traffic reports. Most states maintain phone hotlines and websites alerting drivers how construction and weather is affecting travel on their highways. The US Department of Transportation web site is a clearing house and link resource, and a host of other private organizations also provide driving intelligence on-line. For example, you can visit Web sites maintained by AAA or Rand McNally for planned construction projects along your route, although both are skimpy on specifics. For more detailed, daily updates, check the site of Road Watch America, which is designed to let truckers know what's waiting around the next corner. Another site details hour by hour weather conditions and how they're affecting traffic.

Yet despite all predictions, the most accurate information is always found just on the other side of your windshield. But do take the time to find out what you're getting into. A calm, informed driver is generally better prepared to handle most situations.

FMI State Highway Intelligence

AZ 888-411-7623 or www.dot.state.az.us
CA 916-445-1534 or www.dot.state.ca.gov
CA 303-639-1111 or www.dot.state.co.us
FL 800-475-0044 or www.dot.state.fl.us

IL 800-452-4368 or www.dot.state.il.us

IN 317-232-5533 or www.state.in.us/dot

IA 515-288-1047 or www.dot.state.ia.us

MI 800-337-1334 or www.mdot.state.mo.us

NE 402-471-4533 or www.dot.state.ne.us

OH 888-876-7453 or www.dot.state.oh.us

PA 888-783-6783 or www.dot.state.pa.us

WI 800-762-3947 or www.dot.state.wi.us/dsp

Nationwide Web sites

US Dept of Transportation at www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfoExcellent constuction notices -Road Watch America at http:rwa.metronetworks.com

Excellent weather updates - www.roadweather.com

construction project logs - American Automobile Assn. at www.aaa.com

construction project logs - Rand McNally at www.randmacnally.com

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