Traffic Reporters Cars Report Information Stations Radio Lets

Traffic reporters need to have "up-to-the-minute" (updated; current; timely) information about the traffic, and they have developed several "methods" (ways of doing something) to get that information.

Many TV stations and radio stations use helicopters to observe traffic from the air. This lets reporters quickly identify where traffic is stalled and which "alternative" (other) routes are available. Reporters can also "eavesdrop" (listen to something without participating) on police radio. This lets them hear about accidents and road closures as they are "occurring" (happening), in "real time" (when something happens, not later).

There are also many electronic methods that don't rely on individuals. For example, some traffic "sensors" (electronic devices that measure something and send signals about it) are placed in the "pavement" (the hard surface of a road), and they can measure the number of cars that pass over a certain point in a certain amount of time. The sensor "reads" (information coming from the sensors) can be used to calculate the average speed and the "density" (the number of cars in a given area) of the cars on that road.

"Heavily used streets" (streets that have a lot of traffic) and busy "intersections" (places where roads cross each other) are often "monitored" (observed; watched) by traffic cameras, so reporters can view the "video footage" (recorded images) to "assess" (measure and evaluate) the current traffic conditions.

Finally, some reporters ask individuals to help them improve their reporting. Individuals are "encouraged" (asked to do something) to "call in" (call a radio station with information) when they see an accident or another source of traffic congestion. Some news programs even have "smart phone apps" (application designed for phones that can access the Internet) that people can use to report traffic "hang-ups" (problems that cause traffic to slow down).