THE RIGHT WAVELENGTH FOR TRAFFIC IMFORMATION

In the summer of 1983, the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) together with the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and IBA (Independent Broadcasting Authority) co-operated in an experimental investigation, with the Transport and Road Research Laboratory as advisor, to evaluate the signing of some major routes of local radio stations giving traffic information for motorists. In Kent, on the A2/M2 and M20 signs were erected for BBC Radio Kent, while in Berkshire on the M4 and some other approach roads, signs were erected for IBA Radio 210. The signs were placed in pairs a few hundred metres apart; the first sign in each pair included the phrase--"Travel News" to alert motorists to the purpose of the signs, the second gave the local station name. Both signs showed the local radio frequencies (vhf, and mf in kilohertz). A survey of about 1000 drivers before and after their installation showed that 87% noticed the signs and 46% recalled spontaneously that they dealt with travel news. Those drivers who saw the signs were asked what action, if any, they took as a result of seeing them. About 3% were already listening to the local station, an additional 19% tried to tune to the local station, but only 8% were successful, the remaining 11% failing, possibly due to the lack of calibration of their receivers. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Corporate Authors:

  Specialist and Professional Press

  Surrey House, 1 Throwley Way
  Sutton, Surrey SM1 4QQ,   England 
• Publication Date: 1984-8

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 11
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 164
  • Issue Number: 4807
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Driver information systems; Freeways; Interviewing; Radio; Railroad stations; Signs; Traffic signs; Utilization
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 9148: Before and after study; 9147: Interview; 2752: Motorway; 6947: Radio; 553: Traffic sign; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Research; Terminals and Facilities; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391247
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM