DriveNC FAQ

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I am planning a trip somewhere in North Carolina. How do I find out if there is a disruption (major crash, construction, flooding, snow and ice, etc.) on a NCDOT maintained roadway?
In the Search box at the top of the page in DriveNC, type in the name of the Region, Route (use a hyphen: I-40, US-421, NC-42, etc.), County, or City you are interested in. This will put the focus of the map on your selected geography. You can filter the map by incident type, road type, and event type from the side menu. Below, there is also a table of all known active incidents in North Carolina, and any field is searchable in its search box. If the road you are interested is not listed there then, NCDOT is not aware of any major disruptions on it.
When will my road be cleared after a snowstorm?
Please see NCDOT’s snow-clearing policy.
What is the 'Special Alert' at the top of the page?
The Special Alert is a report of a major incident that has the possibility of impacting a large amount of traffic traveling in North Carolina. The Special Alert may contain information pertaining to a major crash on a North Carolina interstate that is anticipated to last for a long period of time, impacts on several roadways due to a weather event (i.e. – snow or flooding) or it can provide information on active AMBER alerts in North Carolina.
Where are the cameras located and who operates them?
DriveNC.gov shows traffic cameras that are operated by NCDOT and by various cities throughout North Carolina. In most cases, NCDOT operates the cameras that are located along the state's interstates and major US routes, while cameras located on local roads within cities are normally operated by city governments. These traffic cameras are not recorded.
Can I request recorded traffic camera video?
NCDOT traffic cameras are used for real-time traffic monitoring only. NCDOT does not keep archived CCTV video.
Where can I get traffic counts?
Click here for traffic counts.
How can I get a map of North Carolina and/or individual counties?
A digital copy of the N.C. Official State Transportation Map is available online . If you would like a free hardcopy of the map call 800 VISIT NC.
Is there a number that I may call to get road information?
Yes. You may call 511 to get the same roadway information as you can on this site.
May I get a list of any/all road closings?
Yes. The information can be found on the DriveNC Incident List located below the map or click on “Incidents” to go directly there. Above the table on the right, click on "Download All" to download an Excel spreadsheet (.xls) showing all the active incidents statewide.
What are mile markers (MM)?
Mile markers (abbreviated MM) are the small green signs with white numbers that are located off the shoulder of major highways. Mile markers are used to help NCDOT and the public have a reference point along the route. They are located every mile and indicate the number of miles from the beginning of the route in North Carolina to that particular point.

On north-south routes, zero begins at the furthest point south and increases as you travel to the north. For example, on I-95, Mile Marker 0 is located at the North Carolina/South Carolina border and Mile Marker 182 is located at the Virginia/North Carolina border.

On east-west routes the mile markers begin at zero beginning in the west and increase as you travel east. As an example, on I-40, Mile Marker 0 is located at the North Carolina/Tennessee border, and Mile Marker 420 is located in Wilmington, N.C. Mile markers also correspond to exit numbers along all interstate routes in North Carolina.
What types of events causing severe and unusual congestion are shown in DriveNC?
The DriveNC system is designed to give travelers information on the types of events that most often cause delays on our highway system. These include major crashes, construction or maintenance projects, and natural disasters that affect road conditions. Information on these types of events are entered by NCDOT employees with the goal of having the information be as timely, accurate and helpful as possible. DriveNC also includes AMBER Alerts and evacuation information in the top banner, and on a by-county basis in the Snow & Ice section at the bottom.
Please be aware that realistically not each and every event that occurs on the highway system will be shown in DriveNC. In the cases of some crashes, NCDOT may not be made aware of the crash as it may be handled by law enforcement personnel. As resources and partnerships with other agencies permit, more and different types of events will be added to the system. Also note that recurring congestion, such as during rush hours, is not feasible to include in the information on DriveNC since it is ever changing.
What roadways are covered in DriveNC?
NCDOT records and monitors any incidents which affect traffic on all roadways in North Carolina, from the largest roadways (interstates as well as U.S. and N.C. routes) down to secondary routes (S.R.). In DriveNC, the user can focus the map on a particular interstate, U.S. or N.C. roadway by entering the roadway name with a hyphen (e.g. US-70) in the search box at the top of the page. The Incidents table can be searched for a particular road using its search box as well.
Smaller neighborhood and rural roads that are owned and maintained by NCDOT are accessible by focusing the map on the county that they are located in. This can be done either by searching the county name in the top search box, or by searching for the county name in the search box on the incidents table. These smaller roads are usually given a 4-digit secondary road or S.R. designation (such as S.R.-1329 or S.R.-4005) will be displayed, in addition to the name of the road that most people are familiar with (such as Leesville Road or Kelly Road). Any known events on a secondary road in the selected county will be listed when that county is selected.
What does the 'County Alert' represent in the County information?
This alert is displayed on the top banner on DriveNC when the map is focused on a particular county or region which contains the County Alert. The County Alert will provide information on an incident that is having a significant impact on travel within that area.
What is an AMBER Alert?
An AMBER Alert is the broadcasting of information via radio, TV and highway signs alerting the public to the abduction of a child in North Carolina. The AMBER Alert provides information, when available, to the public about the characteristics of the abductor, the description of the abductor's vehicle, including license plate number, the description of the child that has been abducted, and the last known location that the child was abducted from.

When an AMBER Alert is activated, highway signs in North Carolina will direct the public to call 511 to obtain all information that is available about the child abduction. Get more information on NC’s AMBER Alert System here.
Does DriveNC provide data about vehicle height/weight restrictions on roadways?
DriveNC does not provide this information. However, users may find it in third-party truck navigation apps.
What data source is used for the Charging Stations layer? Does it include fast-charge sites?
The data feed is from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is included in its Alternative Fuel Stations Database. Yes, it does include fast-charge sites.

Last updated Oct. 10, 2023

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