Whether you’re hitting the road or staying local and want to avoid traffic, The Toll Roads are the easiest and most predictable way to get to your destination this holiday season.
The Toll Roads, State Routes 73, 133, 241 and 261, are 51 miles of tolled roads in Orange County, California. The 73 Toll Road connects drivers traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego, while the 241 Toll Road provides a time-saving alternative for people to travel between the Inland Empire, mountains and deserts and Orange County.
With SoCal’s recent storms, we wanted to share some tips to remember when you’re driving in the rain or fog this winter. Here are some simple tips for safe driving during winter conditions:
- Stay focused – Using your phone while driving is a big distraction. Severe weather demands your undivided attention, so be sure to reduce any possible distractions by turning the radio down or turning off notifications on your phone to keep your attention fully on the road.
- Take your time – Driving at night in fog or rain can be very dangerous. Reduce your speed in the rain to keep your vehicle from hydroplaning and slow down if you have poor visibility of the road. Consider leaving for your destination a few minutes earlier than you normally would to avoid rushing on the roads.
- Give other vehicles more space – The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead of you, the more time you will have to see a hazard down the road and avoid it. Add one to two seconds of following time in the rain or fog to give you and the cars behind you more time to react to driving conditions.
- Always use your headlights – Always use your headlights to help other cars see you. Many states, including California, require the use of headlights during rain. And avoid using high-beam headlights in fog which consists of tiny water droplets that spread and reflect light.
Other travel tips for driving The Toll Roads during the holiday season:
- Road tripping with FasTrak® – FasTrak is, by far, the easiest and preferred way to pay tolls on every tolled bridge, lane and road in California – and, in some cases, it’s the only way to pay. Before you head out on the road this winter, make sure your account information is up to date to avoid violation. If you have a hardcase, switchable transponder, some tolling facilities allow qualifying carpools and eligible vehicles to drive for free or at a discounted rate. Prior to starting each trip, it is the driver’s responsibility to indicate the number of occupants in the vehicle by moving the switch to the appropriate setting (1, 2, 3+). For more information on carpool and other discounts, visit TheTollRoads.com/California.
- Temporarily Add a License Plate to Your Account – Are you hosting out-of-town guests or renting a vehicle? You can temporarily add a license plate number to your FasTrak account to pay. To add a plate, log in to your account, click “Vehicles,” click “Add a vehicle” and enter the vehicle’s start and end dates.
- Pay Tolls Online Without an Account – All tolls on The Toll Roads are paid electronically. Visitors can easily pay tolls online without a FasTrak account at TheTollRoads.com or via The Toll Roads app. Drivers have 5 days before and after their trip to make a payment to avoid receiving a Notice of Toll Evasion. To download the app, search “The Toll Roads” in the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Know Before You Go – Want to know what the cost is for a particular trip? Check out The Toll Roads’ Toll Calculator at TheTollRoads.com/Tolls/Toll-Calculator. To calculate your toll, select the road you will drive; your entry and exit points (choose “unknown” if you are not sure); how you will pay; and the number of axles your vehicle has. The toll calculator page also features a downloadable map and rate card.
- Navigation – Don’t get stuck in traffic this holiday season. Before you drive, set your navigation to allow tolls to make sure you’re taking the fastest route, every time.
- Avoid Incidents with Caltrans’ QuickMap – Get your California traffic information directly from the source. The Caltrans QuickMap displays a map of your location along with real-time traffic information including freeway speed, traffic camera snapshots, lane closures and more.
The Toll Roads Blog 