An apparent epidemic of roadworks around the country is almost certainly adding significantly to journey times and fuel costs for all fleet owners, and proving a particular headache for those with tight operational schedules. So the announcement of a new ‘beat the jams’ news service is well-timed.
keytraffic News is the first commercial vehicle traffic information service – and will be continuously drawing from over 8,000 sources to give the most up-to-date traffic situations on Britain’s main roads. Inputs will be collated from police, local authorities and traffic cameras as well as from speed and delay sensors in major fleet(operators) ' vehicles. Individual telephone alerts received from on-the-road drivers will also be incorporated.
The service will be available 24/7 year round, and accessed via mobile ‘phone on 09003 444 929. abbey’s Diesel Direct fuelcard members will be able to receive live traffic reports and journey time predictions about their nominated motorways and trunk roads in any UK region, as well as special bulletins concerning serious incidents or delays. 5-day regional weather forecasts will also be available as part of the service.
Operated by ITIS Holdings plc and Trafficlink (UK) Limited, the service will cost 60p per minute. However, when set against the implicit significant costs of delays and the risk of missed deadlines, this is likely to be seen as excellent value for any organisation with time-sensitive operations.