How to Maximize Traffic Reports

Video Transcript

"(Radio Noise) Dr. Roadmap, here again, to tell you how to make the best of traffic reports. And you should listen to traffic reports because a lot of people don't have a navigational device in their car. If that's the case, you are in good company. Seventy percent of motorists throughout the country get their traffic information from simple radio, for good reason. It's probably the most reliable thing you can get. In fact, even the GPS providers and navigation providers, they get their information from the same sources as radio does and sometimes they get it from radio. In fact, I've heard of some cases where Department of Transportation officers listen to the radio traffic reports for what's going on on the freeway. But anyway, there's a little science to getting the most out of a report. And the first rule of thumb is when you get in your car, don't turn off the radio. Listen to every report. The reason is because, as a traffic reporter I can tell you, there's many as a hundred to a hundred and ten accidents at any given time in a major city. Well, we've only got thirty seconds to get those accidents out. So only by listening to every report can you pick up the bulk of them. Because, we'll do like, the top ten in first report, the next ten in the second report, the third ten...so if you don't want to miss anything, you have to hear every report. The other thing is to listen to two different radio stations because their helicopter pilots will be in one part of town, another one in a different...so you can get a better feel of the overall picture and increase the odds of your freeway being mentioned if you listen to two different stations. The other key is to take into account the direction of travel and where the accident occurs. In other words, if you hear there's an accident and it's on the other side of the freeway, if it's in the center divider, it's going to affect you. Also, if it's rush hour, on the other side and it's a major accident, you might squeak by. If it's on your side, of course, then you're in trouble; take an alternate route. In case of doubt, like say you hear of two different accident reports (one says it's at one off ramp, one says it's another) go with what the helicopter pilot says because they are looking down on it, where as a traffic reporter in the studio, all I can rely on is what I see on the computer screen. The helicopter pilot can tell you the exact story. So, in case of doubt, go with them. Lastly- the missing accident case. In case you hear of something and you get there and there's nothing there, it's usually because the police are finishing the paperwork and they haven't wrapped it up yet. These tips will help you beat traffic. Listening to the radio and getting the most of traffic reports. "