Traffic reporting

The traffic (even traffic service) is an integral part of many radio stations in the program. The traffic informs drivers about the current traffic situation. This is generally to periodically of certain FM stations broadcast traffic announcements to motorists, but also give between the fixed transmission schedule of the current traffic situation information as needed. Special car radio decoder responsive to the transmitter and area identifier, so the car radio, for example, at a music playback from a CD / cassette regional traffic station reproduces or the speaker turns on when the unit is muted.

Formation

The Germany German radio was the first radio station which broadcast a traffic regularly; with him the famous " traffic beeper " ( officially: Hinz- trill ) has been developed. The regional traffic was created in the early 1970s in Germany. Leading the way was at that time the Bayerische Rundfunk with the started as a service shaft from April 1, 1971 program Bavaria 3rd 1974, the ARI label was introduced in Germany that allowed automatic switching from cassette on the traffic or turning up the volume for the first time. Since 1988, this feature has been implemented in the RDS, the outdated ARI was turned off by all the ARD radio chains after 10 years of the transition period on 28 February 2005. Older, non- RDS -enabled car radio can therefore not perform automatic switching to traffic broadcasts more.

In Austria, the Ö3 - traffic editorial that send the Austria widths traffic since the late 1970s. Predecessor was already motorists sending motorists on the road, however, only during the broadcast aired current traffic messages. Since 2005 Ö3 also has a studio in the center of ASFINAG, so that the messages can be brought more timely.

Form

For most stations, it is common to each send about five and 30 minutes past the hour, a complete overview of all traffic incidents. In Geisterfahrer messages and accidents, which must be warned as soon as possible, the current program is interrupted or talked about a song. Some radio stations that broadcast their programs in a larger area, the messages are only given in the relevant field.

Sources for messages

The latest reports come from different places to the broadcasters. To report police, fire brigade control centers, emergency services or automobile clubs disabilities or roadblocks. In recent years, broadcasters have often set certain phone numbers for hotlines, where every motorist can leave a message free of charge.

Technology

Car radios have depending on features special facilities to transmit traffic information messages to the user:

  • Playing a CD or a cassette is interrupted by an inaudible RDS program identifier and the traffic announcement is heard. Some stations also play at the beginning and end of the announcement the audible Hinz trill.
  • For announcements, the volume can be adjusted separately, so that one is easier attentive. For better understanding, they are reproduced in some devices in monaural.
  • EON ( Enhanced Other Network): If you listen to a station without traffic announcements ( this is the case especially in culture and classical waves) and this function is activated, the radio automatically switches during a traffic announcement to a traffic information station.
  • TIM (Traffic Information Memo): The radio stores in the off state, the messages and plays them back when switched on. Here, a suitable programming of the car radio is always required, about an hour before the start of the intended use.
  • TMC ( Traffic Message Channel): This digital radio data service that uses the dissemination RDS, (eg radio / PDA) is a navigation system for the automatic bypass traffic jams and obstacles used ( dynamic route guidance ).

Traffic signs

From 1974 to 2003, on motorways with the character 368 (Annex 3 to § 42 paragraph 2 Highway Code, commonly known as "radio signs ") for the frequencies in FM radio with traffic (actually radio announcements for road transport ) established (approx. 10,000 Metal Signs ). These served the motorists Radio -Info ( ARI ) system.

Also along the Austrian motorways and expressways are continuously traffic signs with stations broadcasting traffic information, and set up the corresponding transmission frequency.

Sources / literature

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