Traffic reports on Radio.....

[gordyagusta]

Recently i have become more and more bemused by the what can only be described as woeful traffic reports on both local and national radio stations. I have had to listen to almost identical traffic reports on local radio from issues that are weeks old, nothing new or current live incidents seem to be reported and yet at the end of a 20 second report the broadcaster tells the listeners to 'keep the calls coming in'..... What for, you've told us nothing new for the last 3 weeks, dear. Even on national radio although marginally better, we have had a main road closed near where i work for the last 18 months for major reworks, nothing has been mentioned about it until suddenly it gets a mention for about 4 days on every traffic broadcast, then it stopped, road still closed but now no mention of it, I can't possibly see where the traffic reporter/boadcaster is earning their salary for either telling us nothing or repeating the same old stuff report after report..... am i alone in thinking this??? its beginning to crack me up being stuck in traffic and hearing nothing about current issues and being told about the same old same old .......

[Ankou]

"I can't possibly see where the traffic reporter/boadcaster is earning their salary for either telling us nothing or repeating the same old stuff report after report"

perhaps those listeners who have traffic programme updates on their radios where it automatically tracks/changes to a radio station for travel news is meant to draw listeners to the station. maybe after the report they keep the station on - thus increased listeners. dunno, but i do agree with you. radio 2 grates me with the same people apparently calling in day after day to tell sally traffic that something is causing a hold up (probably them on the blower!)

[TWR]

At times between a phone call an accident has happened, this may give you the chance if on a Motorway to come off & find an alternitive route Gordy.

[Buenchico]

Traffic reporters rely largely upon information supplied to them by the Highways Agency, police forces and transport operators (such as rail and ferry companies). That information is supplemented by further information from listeners. If they aren't told about a problem, they can't report it!

If you keep encountering problems, Gordyagusta, I hope that you always stop and phone in the information. If you don't do so, how can you complain about others? (I've got the traffic numbers for Radio 2 and four BBC local radio stations stored on my mobile phone. Can you say the same?).

Chris