511 Nevada Phone Service FAQ

• Is there a cost to access 511 Nevada?

  There is no charge for the service itself, but calling 511 from a landline phone will cost the same as making any local call; wireless phone users will incur no extra charges by calling 511. However, they will use minutes on wireless calling plans, and roaming charges may apply.

• How do I use the 511 Nevada System?

  Simply dial 511 from within Nevada or the toll free number of 1-877-NVROADS if calling outside of Nevada. An automated voice system will prompt you to choose from options such as Traffic Conditions, Driving Times, and Personalized Travel Services. You can respond verbally or by using the telephone's keypad.

  In order to improve safety, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) recommends that motorists call 511 before driving, or ask a passenger to call 511. Nevada law states that using a hand-held cellphone or other  device while driving a vehicle is a primary offense. Authorities will issue a fine to any driver caught violating this law.

• What do I do when the system cannot recognize what I am saying?

  511 Nevada uses a state-of-the art voice-recognition system to guide you through the menu options. Sometimes the system might have a difficult time recognizing your request due to one of following reasons:

  • If you are saying something that the system is not programmed to recognize at that particular menu.
  • While we have made every attempt to ensure that 511 Nevada is accessible to as many people as possible, the system might have difficulty understanding your voice.
  • Background noise could prevent the system from recognizing your request.

  Please speak as clearly as possible, try to eliminate background noise and try not to use the cellphone while using your phone speakerphone.

• What are the tricks for navigating the system faster and more efficiently?

  You can move through the system faster by interrupting the various menus and prompts. Once you know what questions will be asked, you can answer them as the system starts asking them. There's no need to wait for the system to finish the question before answering.
  
  Another trick to better navigate the system is to use shortcuts. Shortcuts are requests, made at the Main Menu, that bypass the menu structure and take you directly to the feature you requested.
  
  Other tricks for faster and more efficient navigation are using the following commands:

  • Main Menu
    

    This command is recognizable anywhere in the system and will take you directly back to the Main Menu. It is necessary if you want to check Traffic Conditions but are in the Help Menu.

  • Repeat
    If for some reason you forget or are unable to hear part of the listed prompts, you can always say "Repeat".
  • Next
    In Traffic Conditions, say "next" if you want to skip an incident during incident playback.
  • Go Back
    To return to a previous menu, say "Go Back"

• What if the system is busy when I call?

  The system may be experiencing an unusually high volume of calls when you tried to call the service, so the best advice is simply to call back. We are monitoring call volumes and if we need to increase capacity, we will do so. Also, if you are at home or work and have access to a computer and the Internet, you can always visit the 511 Nevada website for current information.

• Who do I call to report a roadside emergency?

  Dial 911 or local law enforcement to report emergencies. Or dial *NHP to report drunk drivers, traffic crashes, stranded or disabled motorists, or any suspicious incidents occurring on any of Nevada's roadways.

• If I am traveling outside of Nevada, how do I connect to other state travel information phone services?

  Most states support 511 as a regional phone number that can be called to obtain traffic information. However, the 511 phone number may not cover the entire state so if you are within an area where 511 covereage is not provided you may not be able to connect to the service.

• Why do I not reach the 511 Nevada system when I dial 511?

  There are three reasons why you may not reach the 511 Nevada system:

  • Your telephone company currently does not provide access to 511. The Nevada DOT has diligently worked to provide 511 on all local phone services.  We will continue to negotiate with the State's landline carriers in order to provide 511 access to everyone who uses a landline telephone.

  • The Nevada DOT has agreements with wireless providers to provide access to 511 Nevada, please write or call your vendor and ask if they will implement 511.
  • Certain office telephone systems cannot access this new three-digit code. Additionally, some pay telephone services may have not programmed 511 services yet. If your carrier or pay phone provider does not offer 511, you may dial 1-877-NVROADS for direct access to 511 Nevada. If your office telephone is not programmed to allow 511 dialing, consult your office manager or telephone system administrator. Office Managers and Technical Support personnel can allow for the use of the 511 code by enabling the transmission of the 511 digits (3-digits instead of 7, 10, or 11) when dialed from Private Branch Exchange (PBX). Office Managers and Technical Support personnel should send the 511 digits to the local telephone carrier in order to connect to the 511 service.

• How do I give my feedback on the 511 Nevada service?

  The best way to give feedback is to use the Comments/Suggestions section of 511 Nevada website or leave a a comment at any time during a call. We will also periodically offer phone and web surveys as a way to receive information on the system.

• How can I reach the Nevada Department of Transportation directly?

  Dial (775) 888-7000 or log onto www.nevadadot.com to contact the Nevada Department of Transportation.