Of almost 1.3 million people entering London in the rush hour, those travelling by car are a minority, but the traffic situation is critical. The highest average speeds reached in London are around 30 km/h and fifty per cent of driving time in Central London is spent standing still. At peak times (during the rush-hour) around 50.000 vehicles an hour are heading in or out of Central London. In both Central and Greater London saturation point has been reached, but another 7.5% increase in car traffic is predicted. Saturation Point can be defined as the point at which any minor hindrance, such as road works, a traffic accident, a vehicle breakdown, or a defective stop-light, brings the local road network to a standstill. A traffic situation is said in such cases to be unstable. information on the environmental, human, and economic costs of London's traffic problems.

Closed Circuit Television
In order to keep an eye on traffic flows, impose automatic fines for traffic offences, provide security observation for most large companies and government office complexes, to prevent street crime, and increasingly to combat terrorism, the United Kingdom has become the world's number one CCTV user. Closed Circuit Television, has become so common, that most Londoners will be videoed, either on foot or in their cars several times a day. These already widespread surveillance mechanisms are on the increase. Six thousand more cameras at a cost of eighty million pounds are to be installed. This system will be employed to charge a toll on car users entering London.

Standard practice
Techniques used to catch drivers who use bus lanes, cause obstructions, break the speed limit, or jump red lights, are to provide the basis for a new traffic congestion charge. It is standard practice for video-computer operators to freeze the registration numbers of the cars caught on camera, transfer them to a data base, and then have the fine sent by post to the offender. By 2003 motorists may have to pay five pounds a day congestion charge to enter inner London. London traffic expert Derek Turner is convinced that the camera system is the key to success, traffic radio station manager Will Kackson is more sceptical about Ken Livingstone's plans. Here are two quotes from the programme: Derek Turner. "What you have to do is to buy a place on the database. In England we have registration plates which are unique to the car. You just phone up and say 'this is my registration number. We enter it on a data base. We charge you for entering it on the database, if you aren't on the data base the cameras will record you we follow that up. It's quite a simple system. You just need cameras".

Into the city
Will Jackson. "Particularly in London we are seeing all sorts of attempts to reduce congestion. Whether they'll work or not is anybody's guess. But I think people are always going to want to drive into the city. And anything that tries to stop that probably is doomed to failure".

Traffic reports
Since 1995 a private radio traffic service Trafficlink has been watching traffic and feeding travel reports to 150 stations, which is roughly 70% of the broadcasting market. Relying more and more on camera and computer links and less on planes and traffic helicopters, Trafficlink has proved a very successful radio venture. As a driver tuned in to your favourite local radio station anywhere in England you win think that the traffic anchor (presenter) you bear belongs to that local station. In fact most of them have a double identity .They sit in London and feed their reports in to radio stations nationwide. The anchors adjust their styles to fit each radio station. If the station features fast moving music and humorous dj's and anchors, the traffic reports will be fast paced and humorous. Trafficlink anchors often use the opportunity to develop broadcastings style and media communication techniques, so that they can go on to other jobs in TV and radio later on. The old idea of 'one job for life' is rapidly disappearing in the UK. Trafficlink staff based on the top floor of a Central London skyscraper (high-rise building) are in an excellent position to comment the state of London's traffic.

Increasing traffic
Will Jackson (Trafficlink manager): "The traffic is really increasing all the time. We are seeing extra traffic starting earlier on. People are trying to stagger their journeys. That means the traffic jams are now building up - whereas before they might have started at 7.30 in the morning - they are now starting at six, even at 5.30 on a particularly busy day and there's also even started to be a build up of traffic overnight as well. So the rush hour has just expanded as the number of cars has expanded.
Howard Briggs (on commuting by car): "You sit there for hours. There have been times in the past when it has been half past nine at night before I've got home and I've left work at five o' clock. Four and a half hours, it's horrendous. There are times when I have to take the car because I'm carrying things, that can 't be carried on a train, so what do I do?"