Traffic reporting
Encyclopedia
Traffic reporting is the distribution of information about road
conditions such as traffic congestion
, detour
s, and traffic accidents, generally as part of a radio or television broadcast
program. The reports help commuters anticipate and avoid traffic problems. Many reports mention alternate travel routes to avoid the traffic problems. In addition to periodic reports, live traffic status information became more common in in the early 21st century with traffic congestion map
s available by personal computer, mobile devices, and GPS units. In many places, there are all-traffic radio stations broadcasting traffic news 24 hours a day.
programming is the primary content, roadway conditions are tracked by monitoring police radio
frequencies. Some radio stations also have agreements with states' highway patrol that permit a direct connection with a law enforcement computer. This enables real-time information gathering of the latest accident reports to states' highway patrol divisions. However, more and more, state departments of transportation have agreements with various technology providers to deliver automated traffic tracking data which is resold and redistributed.
Most large metropolitan areas in the United States have traffic reporters in the air and also depend on advisories from listeners using cell phones and other mobile communications devices.
Many medium and large metropolitan areas have helicopters to overfly accident scenes and other areas of high traffic volume. This helps each radio or TV station to provide up-to-the-minute, live reports or traffic conditions. Stations in larger markets may have their own helicopter, or share resources with a local television station to help spread the costs. In many markets, a local or regional traffic reporting service may have contracts with several radio and television stations. This helps stations avoid the expense of purchasing or leasing their own helicopter, hiring a pilot, and setting a maintenance schedule.
In many large cities, state transportation departments and other agencies have installed series of traffic camera
s along the Interstate highway system
and other roads to monitor traffic conditions. Systems of this type can be easily seen along the I-95 corridor in the eastern section of the United States.
Television stations in Miami, Florida have agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation to enable use of video images generated by this FDOT camera system. These images are shown during morning and afternoon traffic reports, on several local stations, and FDOT is cited by reporters as proving “these images courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation”.
Beginning in the late 1970s, and on into the 1980s and 1990s, competition between radio and television stations led many program and news directors to add traffic reports to their schedules, though many smaller stations could not afford a full-time traffic reporter or aircraft. This led to the expansion of traffic reporting companies, including Shadow Broadcast Services, Metro Networks
, Trafficlink
, SmartRoute Systems, Traffic Patrol Broadcasting, and other regional traffic reporting agencies.
SmartRoute Systems was established in 1988 as an alternate traffic reporting service. They have been funded by government grants to provide traffic reports for local Departments of Transportation (DOT), but have also provided traffic reporting services for radio and television stations.
In 1998 Westwood One
purchased Shadow Broadcast Services.
In 1997 and 1998 Metro Networks began buying many smaller traffic reporting agencies, as reported in their own financial statements to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1999 Metro Networks acquired a firm called Copter Acquisition Company, from Westwood One
. Westwood One then purchased Metro Networks, and Shadow Broadcast Services and Metro Networks were merged together after that.
In 2000 Westwood One purchased SmartRoute Systems, and merged it with together with Metro Networks/Shadow Broadcast Services.
In 2004 Clear Channel Communications
began producing on-air traffic reports for most of its own radio stations; it was done under the trademark of “Total Traffic Network.” This was Clear Channel's response to Westwood One's acquisitions of Shadow Broadcast Services, Metro Networks, and SmartRoute Systems. Clear Channel had been receiving traffic reporting services from those companies up until then, and instead decided to do those services for its own radio stations. However, due to downsizing since 2004, Clear Channel has since changed its primary focus from on-air traffic reports to producing traffic information and data for use in in-car navigational devices; it still produces on-air traffic reports for most of its radio stations.
Traffic.com, also known as Navteq Traffic, Traffic Pulse and Mobility Technologies, is a United States nationwide provider of traffic
information via a number of media, including the Internet
, cell phones, radio
, satellite radio
and television
.
In 2006 Reliant Broadcasting began operating independently from the larger traffic reporting services. Currently Reliant Broadcasting produces traffic reports for radio stations on both the east and west coasts of the United States.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
conditions such as traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
, detour
Detour
Detour may refer to:* Detour, a temporary routing to avoid an obstruction-Entertainment:Literature* Detour , a 1939 novel* Detour , an entertainment and fashion magazine published by the Detour Media GroupFilm and television...
s, and traffic accidents, generally as part of a radio or television broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
program. The reports help commuters anticipate and avoid traffic problems. Many reports mention alternate travel routes to avoid the traffic problems. In addition to periodic reports, live traffic status information became more common in in the early 21st century with traffic congestion map
Traffic congestion map
A traffic congestion map is a graphical, realtime or near-realtime representation of traffic flow for some particular area. Data is typically collected via loop sensors embedded in the roadways, then processed by computer at a central facility and distributed as a map view to users.Many web sites...
s available by personal computer, mobile devices, and GPS units. In many places, there are all-traffic radio stations broadcasting traffic news 24 hours a day.
Monitoring methods
At radio stations where news radioNews Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
programming is the primary content, roadway conditions are tracked by monitoring police radio
Police radio
Police radio is a communications radio system used by law enforcement agencies all over the world.Many such systems are encrypted to prevent eavesdroppers from listening in.-Portable radios:...
frequencies. Some radio stations also have agreements with states' highway patrol that permit a direct connection with a law enforcement computer. This enables real-time information gathering of the latest accident reports to states' highway patrol divisions. However, more and more, state departments of transportation have agreements with various technology providers to deliver automated traffic tracking data which is resold and redistributed.
Most large metropolitan areas in the United States have traffic reporters in the air and also depend on advisories from listeners using cell phones and other mobile communications devices.
Many medium and large metropolitan areas have helicopters to overfly accident scenes and other areas of high traffic volume. This helps each radio or TV station to provide up-to-the-minute, live reports or traffic conditions. Stations in larger markets may have their own helicopter, or share resources with a local television station to help spread the costs. In many markets, a local or regional traffic reporting service may have contracts with several radio and television stations. This helps stations avoid the expense of purchasing or leasing their own helicopter, hiring a pilot, and setting a maintenance schedule.
In many large cities, state transportation departments and other agencies have installed series of traffic camera
Traffic camera
A traffic camera is a video camera which observes vehicular traffic on a road. Typically, these are put along major roads such as highways, freeways, motorways, autoroutes and expressways, as well as arterial roads, and are connected with optical fibers buried alongside or even under the road,...
s along the Interstate highway system
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
and other roads to monitor traffic conditions. Systems of this type can be easily seen along the I-95 corridor in the eastern section of the United States.
Television stations in Miami, Florida have agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation to enable use of video images generated by this FDOT camera system. These images are shown during morning and afternoon traffic reports, on several local stations, and FDOT is cited by reporters as proving “these images courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation”.
History
Broadcast reports on traffic conditions, usually heard on radio, became popular in large U.S. cities in the 1970s and quickly spread to other areas as population centers grew. As smaller urban areas became absorbed into larger metropolitan areas, particularly in the United States, the freeways became cluttered during the morning and afternoon rush.Beginning in the late 1970s, and on into the 1980s and 1990s, competition between radio and television stations led many program and news directors to add traffic reports to their schedules, though many smaller stations could not afford a full-time traffic reporter or aircraft. This led to the expansion of traffic reporting companies, including Shadow Broadcast Services, Metro Networks
Metro Networks
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/files/2011/04/Metro_Logo_bigger.jpgMetro Networks is a broadcasting outsourcing company based in Houston, Texas. It was a subsidiary of Westwood One until its sale to Clear Channel Communications in 2011...
, Trafficlink
Trafficlink
Trafficlink is a British company specialising in providing real-time traffic information. Clients include the BBC, ITN, ITV, Sky News and Transport Direct...
, SmartRoute Systems, Traffic Patrol Broadcasting, and other regional traffic reporting agencies.
SmartRoute Systems was established in 1988 as an alternate traffic reporting service. They have been funded by government grants to provide traffic reports for local Departments of Transportation (DOT), but have also provided traffic reporting services for radio and television stations.
In 1998 Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
purchased Shadow Broadcast Services.
In 1997 and 1998 Metro Networks began buying many smaller traffic reporting agencies, as reported in their own financial statements to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1999 Metro Networks acquired a firm called Copter Acquisition Company, from Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. Westwood One then purchased Metro Networks, and Shadow Broadcast Services and Metro Networks were merged together after that.
In 2000 Westwood One purchased SmartRoute Systems, and merged it with together with Metro Networks/Shadow Broadcast Services.
In 2004 Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
began producing on-air traffic reports for most of its own radio stations; it was done under the trademark of “Total Traffic Network.” This was Clear Channel's response to Westwood One's acquisitions of Shadow Broadcast Services, Metro Networks, and SmartRoute Systems. Clear Channel had been receiving traffic reporting services from those companies up until then, and instead decided to do those services for its own radio stations. However, due to downsizing since 2004, Clear Channel has since changed its primary focus from on-air traffic reports to producing traffic information and data for use in in-car navigational devices; it still produces on-air traffic reports for most of its radio stations.
Traffic.com, also known as Navteq Traffic, Traffic Pulse and Mobility Technologies, is a United States nationwide provider of traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
information via a number of media, including the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, cell phones, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
In 2006 Reliant Broadcasting began operating independently from the larger traffic reporting services. Currently Reliant Broadcasting produces traffic reports for radio stations on both the east and west coasts of the United States.