TELL OTHERS: TWEET TRAFFIC TIPS ASAP
There's not much worse on the road then getting stuck in traffic that's not moving...well, except maybe knowing that others are about about to get equally as stuck as you already are and there's no way to let them know.
You can fix that easily: Just become a volunteer traffic reporter to help change that: Danbury South HamletHub has announced the launch of a new "hashtag" for area residents in that very same pickle...stuck in traffic, wanting others to know right away.
The hashtag is this: #DanburyTraffic:
CHAT WITH OTHERS IN REAL-TIME
"It's just a matter of people knowing about it", said Tom Zarecki, editor of the Danbury South region for HamletHub. "I used it a few times last week, just before Christmas, while stuck in traffic a variety of typical places around town, along with what looked like dozens of other cars as well. With this new hashtag," Zarecki continued, "We can all chat with each other in near-real time".
Although HamletHub reminds our readers never to tweet while driving, of course, but IF/WHEN you observe a traffic situation you'd like others to know about, just find a safe spot to pull over (of if your traffic isn't moving at all), and here's exactly how to do it
HOW TO WRITE TRAFFIC ALERTS
1. START WITH THE HASHTAG: Begin your message with the hashtag, no space, then the phrase "DanburyTraffic" with no space between "danbury" and "traffic", then a COLON, so it looks like this: #DanburyTraffic: or #DANBURYTRAFFIC: (see examples below). Twitter is NOT case-sensitive, so either way is fine. ALSO: use another hashtag before LANDMARKS people know well and might commonly search, like #DanburyFairMall or #FederalRoad or #WarMemorial or #StewLeonards (see examples below)
3. PROVIDE UPDATES IF/AS THINGS CHANGE. If you later see the traffic situation you reported on is over, or cleared, or is getting worse, tweet that too, so our readers will get the latest direct from you (see examples below).
EXAMPLES OF GOOD TWEETS
Note: none of these are real! But they ARE good examples:
#DanburyTraffic: I-84 exit 5 onto Down St. Police stopping each car getting off that exit.
#DANBURYTRAFFIC: Flooding in Macy's Parking Lot, #DanburyMall. Huge detours.
#DanburyTraffic: Power outage in #AuntHack area. All lights out.
#DANBURYTRAFFIC: Careful! Black ice along Route 53 from Main Street into Bethel. Cars sliding.
#DanburyTraffic: Entrance to #WCSU Westside Campus blocked by multi-car accident.
TWEET THE NEXT TRAFFIC TIE-UP
Get the idea? Next time you're either stuck in traffic, or want to report something you observe on the streets and highways of the greater Danbury area, use the new hashtag #DanburyTraffic.
Thanks very much, and here's to safe driving, from all your friends at HamletHub.
Questions? Call Tom Zarecki, editor of the Danbury South region of HamletHub.com.