Radio plan to cut static traffic
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by CM reporter A BBC PLAN (CM March 12) to set up a radio network of stations broadcasting traffic information could be fully operational within two years. This emerged during a demonstration I attended in London last week.
The plan is at present being considered by the Home Office.
The system involves the use of up to 80 low-powered stations nationwide, each of which would broadcast information on traffic conditions in its area and give details of alternative routes to avoid a high build-up of vehicles. It would supplement the existing motoring information service already operated by the BBC, but would have several distinct advantages.
• There would be no need for the driver to even have a radio fitted to his vehicle. A small receiver costing E7 to E10 would be installed in the cab and this would pick up the information relevant to each area as the vehicle came within range af its transmitter. The driver could choose to listen or not and would also be able to pick up the adjacent area's transmissions where the two overlap.
• Alternatively, if a radio was already fitted to the vehicle, a small unit could be added and wired to it. This would be arranged to cut out any programme being received when motoring news was being broadcast.
Simpler In this way the BBC's proposal differs from the German Bosch system which is incorporated into one channel only. The Bosch system also works on VHF while the BBC would expect to use the mediumwave band. Medium wave is technically more simple and few British car or commercial vehicle radios operate on VHF. During the demonstration a coach equipped with a receiving device was driven round London and test transmissions were picked up from two stations, one in Hertfordshire and the other in Surrey.
These transmissions were more frequent than those which would be emitted in practice. It is expected that 30 seconds every eight minutes would be a likely rate, but a blanking device could be fitted to the receiver to reject repeated information. As the BBC is quick to stress this is only a proposed scheme. No details have been worked out as to who would send in the information or disseminate it. Finance is another factor which would need clarification.
The BBC insists that an additional fee should not be added to the reception licence as the scheme is not a normal part of the broadcasting function. The cost of setting up the stations using existing buildings in most cases is estimated at £2 million.
The Government, it seems, has a choice of either taxing the reception equipment or, realising the saving to the community from a reduction in traffic jams, providing the network as a free service.