The Texas Department of Transportation is seeking bids to add free wireless access connectivity to all Texas highway rest stops. The idea is that people will be more inclined to take driving breaks if they can pull over and surf the web or read email. I think it's a pretty cool idea, and might encourage me to tote my laptop along on future road trips, just to keep in touch with friends and read news. What will be really cool is when free wireless access is the norm, no matter where you are, so that people will be able to interact with their computers with total freedom, as cell phones did for regular telephone lines.

Texas Using Wi-Fi to Encourage Motorists

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.

The department is accepting bids until next week and plans to choose a vendor in July. The chosen company won't be paid, however, to provide the free access.

TxDOT, which says Texas is the first state to provide such free access at rest areas, began experimenting with Wi-Fi hotspots last fall.

"The feedback we've received so far has been very positive," said Andy Keith, manager of TxDOT's maintenance division. "Texas' highways are seeing an increasing number of business travelers, truckers and RVers and access to e-mail is important to them."

Keith said there are also plans to install special kiosks where motorists can access Internet-enabled computers with the swipe of a credit card. A price hasn't been set.

Keith said the state hopes to reduce fatigue-related accidents by encouraging drivers to stop more often. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites), about 1,500 people die annually in fatigue-related crashes in United States.