Here in the metro-Boston MA area, one radio station gives traffic reports every 10 minutes.
They primarily only report on the major arteries and I have to wonder about the value of this; the norm is for traffic to be backed up in the same places every day. And if something abnormal occurs, typically an accident, there are no ‘alternative routes’ for most people. ‘Leaving earlier’ doesn’t really work; most people don’t leave ‘slack time’ in their morning routine, and leaving later isn’t an option.
All I can figure is there is something comforting in listening to periodic traffic reports.
Traffic reports are common across the country - but why?
A relic from the days before Google Maps would tell you the best route on your cell phone, factoring in traffic conditions right this very second.
Actually it’s still kind of handy in the winter, when they might tell you “holy shit the roads are slippery this morning,” giving you a reason to change your plans that you might not get from a simple glance at travel time on Google Maps.
When I used to commute on 128 around Boston, it was extremely useful. Sure, there were the normal hotspots that appeared nearly every day, but knowing exactly how far back they extended gave me the option to hop off the highway an exit or two early and take surface streets the rest of the way, and not sit for 30 minutes for those last few miles.
I commute on 128 as well, and while I often use Google Maps I don’t every day. The traffic report lets me know when things are worse than usual and to plan to use one of the several alternate routes I have. I completely agree that there are places that back up every day, but the degree to which they backup varies quite a bit.
Alternate routes are all over the place, even in the greater Boston area.
The radio traffic report is a hell of a lot more convenient (and safer) when you’re in your car. I drive through NYC to visit my family, and the reports let me know what route is the best while I’m in transit without having to (illegally) look at my cell phone.
It’s occasionally useful to know if the freeway is backed up all through town or if it’s going to loosen up soon because there was a wreck at the 51st street ramp.
It’s not useful when it tells me that a surface street is blocked off due to an accident - when I’m driving through the area and the accident has cleared already, or when the street actually is blocked off but they haven’t recorded a new version of the report yet so they don’t mention it.
You don’t have to look; Google Maps will tell you, audibly, that it’s found a faster route; tap “Accept,” and you’re off and running, no more of a glance than you would use to change the radio station.
I’ve never found it to be useful, but around here it’s pretty much a given that traffic is going to be shitty everywhere, every daylight hour of every day. I’m pretty sure they could literally read the same report every time and not only would no one notice, but it would still be 95% accurate.
I got caught up in one hell of a traffic backup yesterday on I-495 North outside of Boston yesterday which I thought was odd because there is hardly ever any congestion on that stretch. I immediately turned on 1030 am to get the traffic report and found out that it was a serious traffic jam caused by an accident that was at least 5 miles long. I was able to take the next exit and drive home using some of the larger side roads. It probably would have taken me over an hour to make it past the jam if I stayed on 495.
For commuters, I don’t know the value. Most commuters go the same way every day, and unless there is a major and unexpected backup, it is about the same, every day.
For professional drivers, as I was for several years between corporate catering and working for a utility, traffic reports were very useful. I would often plan my routes around bad traffic areas, and, as I was going to new places every day, I did not necessarily know the usal patterns, so even just a “usual back up on the highway” was usuful information.
I have 3 different routes to go to work, and 3 to get home. Depending on when I go to work, the weather, or accidents I can choose any of the three (although there is one primary route for most days).
I work on 128 outside Boston, so there are multiple highway options to choose from, and a few surface roads. That may not be the same in other places but a traffic report can be quite helpful.
For any significant commute there are usually tons of alternates or detours in and around major urban centers, sometimes multiple freeways, or non-freeway alternates. Sometimes there aren’t, and that sucks, but I’ve always found radio traffic reports useful. If there’s nothing about the route that I’m on, then it’s assurance that it’s more or less normal.
It’s true that Google Maps can give you traffic information, and so do many GPS units. But not everyone pre-checks Google before a trip, and I only use the GPS when I’m going someplace unfamiliar, but the car radio is always on. It’s kind of like having a traffic warning pushed at you, instead of pulled by request.
I’ve used them in my home city and various places I’ve traveled. Most times they are great and the few times I’ve been very let down have been when there was an accident or something major only a couple minutes in front of me. And even then, at least I know why I’ve come to a complete stop and can consider my options.
I use WAZE specifically to avoid traffic/accidents. On a trip to Pittsburgh one weekend, there were construction delays on both Rte 28 and 356/parkway, my usual two options. Taking either route would have added 30 minutes to my usual hour drive.
WAZE took me on a crazy/scary route on roads and through areas I did not know existed, and I made my trip in one hour.
Just last weekend WAZE alerted me to an accident on route 28, and had me exit at Highland Park, drive a mile, then resume on 28, totally avoiding a standstill.