Traffic warning system extended: In-car unit covers 1,000 miles of motorway
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MOTORISTS in the South-east and Midlands will be able to get instant information to help them avoid motorway traffic jams following the extension of a system previously available only around London.
The Trafficmaster system has been available since 1990 on the M25 and yesterday it was extended to cover about 1,000 miles of motorways and linking A roads.
Trafficmaster works through a network of nearly 800 sensors hung from motorway bridges which monitor the speed of cars. If the average traffic speed falls below 30mph it sends a message to a central control computer which relays it to users.
Cars are fitted with a small screen showing a map of the motorway network. The system allows users to zoom in to show where traffic is moving slowly. It also gives brief details of the cause of a hold-up.
John Abbott, the commercial director of General Logistics, which has developed the system, said at yesterday's presentation: 'You can usually reckon on five minutes delay if the speed goes down to 25mph and 25 minutes if if it goes down to 5mph. This allows motorists to make decisions in advance of their journeys.' There are plans to extend the system to the whole country by 1995.
John MacGregor, Secretary of State for Transport, who has one in his car, said of the system: 'When driver behaviour changes as a result of better information it helps to reduce congestion and the problems caused by traffic accidents, which in turn helps everybody.' However, ministry sources said there were no plans to introduce the system free for all drivers.
Currently it costs around pounds 290 to install, plus pounds 23 to link into the information system. There are currently 3,000 users, mainly in private cars, and the firm hopes another 5,000 will sign up over the next year.
Phil Llewellin test-drives the Trafficmaster in the Independent on Saturday.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments