Navteq, a digital map, traffic and location data provider, is gearing up for the 4th of July by offering driving tips and traffic information to traveling consumers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that July 3 and July 4 are two of the highest traffic days of the year, so Navteq is bringing its expertise into the picture for consumers who will be on the road those days. Since the Federal holiday will be observed on Friday, July 3, many people are expected to take off Thursday as well and enjoy a four-day weekend this year.

"Traffic congestion is highest during peak holiday travel seasons, such as the Fourth of July," said Alex Wiegand, vice president at Navteq, Chicago, IL. "Navteq traffic.com provides drivers with a variety of mobile and web-based tools and tips to help them deal with congested roads.

"By providing consumers with real-time traffic information, drivers can choose alternative routes to get to their destinations faster," he said. "These tools are available for free to drivers year-round."

Navteq Traffic.com gives drivers multiple channels to check up on traffic, either online or on-the-go, so that they can make the best decisions possible concerning routes, accident information and traffic updates.

Navteq urges drivers to save the phone number 1-866-MY-TRAFC (1-866-698-7232) to their mobile phone before getting on the road.

This is Navteq's free hotline that provides speed dial access to Traffic.com where users can get information to avoid heavy traffic, construction or accidents during the Holiday weekend.

"Mobile devices and navigation are natural compliments to one another," Mr. Wiegand said. "Like with other types of navigation systems, the ability to receive traffic information while preparing for a trip, for example, gives a driver the advantage of road conditions in real-time.

"By seeing highlighted routes on a device, as well as color-coded signals for roads with heavy traffic, construction and accidents or incidents, a driver can alternate their pre-planned route and make smarter decisions," he said.

Users can also access the same traffic information by visiting mobi.traffic.com from their data-enabled mobile device.

For users who don't have time to get on the Web or are too busy to call the hotline, Navteq has set up a text messaging system to deliver real-time traffic information for different cities.

By sending a text message with the user's city code such as NY for New York or CHIC for Chicago to short code 87232 (TRAFC), the user will receive traffic information in their area.

Navteq Traffic.com has also offered up a few more helpful hints for the holiday weekend to keep drivers safe and happy.

One of the tips that drivers should remember is that when attending a fireworks display, remember to park further away and walk. Navteq claims that by doing this, drivers will walk right past the traffic on the way out.

Navteq also wanted drivers to consider driving early in the morning or late at night while traffic is lightest if they are planning a weekend getaway. Navteq's only stipulation for these drivers is to make sure they don't drive tired.

"Location-based services will become more and more ubiquitous," Mr. Wiegand said.

"Not only will the number and volume of GPS-enabled devices, such as mobile handsets and PNDs, continue to grow, but location-aware laptops, portable media players, and digital cameras will be perceived as a consumer necessity," he said.

"The vast emergence of the smart phone, which now can offer navigation as a standard feature, will continue to shape the future of the location based services market."