1 of 1- leafs67
- Member
Offline 
Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
A fun distraction from the US election:
While I understand and appreciate that there are very fine people who may attend this board whom actually are working in, or as a traffic announcer, I was wondering if traffic reports have become obsolete?
With apps like "Waze" and live Google Maps, why would a AM terrestrial radio station waste 4-8 60 second reports an hour on traffic. I wonder if most have Sirius XM, podcasts, streaming music services, As I m sure most are aware, Waze is live, will reroute you before a traffic report is old news.
How many radio users change the station immediately when the traffic report comes on? Do the reports impact listeners outside the immediate area? Some stations actually announce they are using the Waze. Is that counterintuitive?
never worked ever, in radio
- geo
- Unregistered
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
If it wasn't for Jody Thornton's traffic reports, I'd probably never catch Roger Ashby's moldy oldies program on FM 88.5
- Chrisphen
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
You are staggeringly wrong, but thanks for the buzz marketing of the aforementioned products/services. Traffic reports are the very least they could do as a service to the public.
- Muffaraw Joe
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I dunno, you know the traffic is light when they report an accident on Willowdale Ave. and Cummer...
Not really a major intersection or issue at 12:30 pm on a Thursday!
Last edited by Muffaraw Joe (November 5, 2020 8:50 pm)
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- Muffaraw Joe
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I loved Geets as Worn Down, doing traffic, here is a clip of Pete and Geets doing their show and at 1:15 minutes in, you will hear Worn, doing traffic...I always loved his traffic reports, he used to oooh and aahh, when he mentioned "Coxwell" Ave.
Man, they were funny!
Last edited by Muffaraw Joe (November 5, 2020 8:58 pm)
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- Prod Guy
- Unregistered
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
There's a reason 680 never carries any press conference in its entirety. The second it runs past the 1's they get overwhelmed with calls wanting to know where the traffic report is. I listen to the traffic reports on 680 every day I get close to the city and I have every piece of technology that anyone else does.
Besides, in your car you aren't supposed to be screwing with your phone zooming in and out of a map trying to find alternate routes around the delay you're about to plough into as you look down at your crotch.
- Peter the K
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I'm a slave to my phone's gps. I plug the destination it even when I'm just going around town. Much like a calculator for simple math, it dulls your senses a bit but it has saved my bacon on several occasions routing around a trouble spot before the traffic report mentions it.
- AspectRatio
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
Prod Guy wrote:
you're about to plough into as you look down at your crotch.
"That's what SHE said!"
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I loved Geets as Worn Down, doing traffic
That's a great name. Everyone has their favourite I suppose. I used to be a fan of "Guy in the Sky"
That also was a great traffic reporting name!
I believe traffic reports will always be like hot and cold running water.
The radio gets you up and going, and the traffic reports keep you alert to what's going on with the roads.
One thing I don't hear enough of though, is public transit traffic info.
I like to believe that too is also of high importance.
Last edited by Radiowiz (November 6, 2020 5:38 am)
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- geo
- Unregistered
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
That's easy for you to say
- Muffaraw Joe
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I went to school with Guy in the Sky Radiowiz, we both went to Seneca for the RTA program and hosted shows on CRSC (Seneca Radio) back then it was piped into the big common area/caff
I think I played Skinny Puppy and Bad Brains on the morning show...yikes eh?
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- Prod Guy
- Unregistered
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
I went to school with Guy in the Sky Radiowiz, we both went to Seneca for the RTA program and hosted shows on CRSC (Seneca Radio) back then it was piped into the big common area/caff
I think I played Skinny Puppy and Bad Brains on the morning show...yikes eh?
Did he talk too fast and avoid middle consonants back then too? 
- Muffaraw Joe
- Member
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
Prod Guy, he was really funny and did a mean impression of Peewee Herman!
The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
- ig
- Iain Grant
Offline
Re: Are Traffic Reports Obsolete?
Guy still fills in on a pretty regular basis. He's Rob Valentine now though
I loved Geets as Worn Down, doing traffic
That's a great name. Everyone has their favourite I suppose. I used to be a fan of "Guy in the Sky"
That also was a great traffic reporting name!
I believe traffic reports will always be like hot and cold running water.
The radio gets you up and going, and the traffic reports keep you alert to what's going on with the roads.
One thing I don't hear enough of though, is public transit traffic info.
I like to believe that too is also of high importance.
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.