Sally Boazman
Encyclopedia
Sally Boazman, known to many of her listeners as "Sally Traffic", is a British
radio traffic reporter, best known for her work in the afternoons on the national BBC Radio 2
, with more than eight million listeners. Her reporting "revolutionised" United Kingdom traffic news with the addition of live reports from motorists on mobile phones and lorry drivers on CB radio. Boazman's reporting is so up to date that the national Highways Agency
uses her broadcast to update their own reports.
Boazman was described as "bit of a superhero for motorists", by Autotrader UK as the 'sexiest voice on the radio' and by veteran broadcaster Steve Wright as a 'national treasure' who changed the way traffic reporting was done. Her fans have named a thoroughbred race horse (which occasionally even won), after her as well as lorry trucks.
where she worked as a secretary for the future BBC Director General Greg Dyke
. After later working as a traffic news announcer for the AA
she went on to present traffic reports for a number of local radio stations before moving to Classic FM
. Her first presenting role was for the British Forces Broadcasting Service
after which she worked for the BBC World Service
and commercial radio. She spent some time away from broadcasting following the birth of her son, Harry, but returned later to become Chief Travel Reporter for BBC GLR. She joined BBC Radio 2
as the network's first official traffic news presenter in 1998, presenting travel updates during the afternoon and early evening. She has worked alongside Johnnie Walker
, Chris Evans and Simon Mayo
on their respective Drivetime shows, Steve Wright during the afternoon and Jeremy Vine
at lunchtime. During the early 2000s she briefly presented an early Saturday morning programme for the network. Boazman's reports for the M25 motorway
frequently make use of the phrase "both clock and anti". The information she reads is also collated from traffic and travel providers Trafficlink.
navigation has a Sally Traffic voice available for its GPS units. Proceeds from purchase of the voice driving set go to the charity, BBC Children in Need Appeal.
From 10 to 19 November 2007, she cycled across 400 km of Kenya
's Rift Valley to support charity, Transaid, and in 2009, she presented the Gold level Sony Radio Academy Award for drivetime entertainment to her fellow broadcaster, Chris Evans, while in 2007 the Gold level Entertainment award honored the Chris Evans Show
and staff, of which Boazman was part. She also won the Truck & Driver Driver's Choice award for Best Traffic Information in 2009.
On 29 October 2011 she presented The Road to Nowhere for BBC One
in London and South East England, a documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of the M25
. The programme sees Boazman journeying around the motorway and examining its economic and environmental impact, as well as other ways it has changed Britain's society.
with her son Harry, born 1987, who is a musician. Truckfest
has her as a regular participant, appearing in every event since 2002. A self-professed Francophile, she occasionally takes the Channel Tunnel
and subsequently drives from Calais
to St-Omer.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
radio traffic reporter, best known for her work in the afternoons on the national BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, with more than eight million listeners. Her reporting "revolutionised" United Kingdom traffic news with the addition of live reports from motorists on mobile phones and lorry drivers on CB radio. Boazman's reporting is so up to date that the national Highways Agency
Highways Agency
The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...
uses her broadcast to update their own reports.
Boazman was described as "bit of a superhero for motorists", by Autotrader UK as the 'sexiest voice on the radio' and by veteran broadcaster Steve Wright as a 'national treasure' who changed the way traffic reporting was done. Her fans have named a thoroughbred race horse (which occasionally even won), after her as well as lorry trucks.
Early career
Following a brief foray into acting, Boazman took a post in the current affairs department of London Weekend TelevisionLondon Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
where she worked as a secretary for the future BBC Director General Greg Dyke
Greg Dyke
Gregory "Greg" Dyke is a British media executive, journalist and broadcaster. Since the 1960s, Dyke has a long career in the UK in print and then broadcast journalism. He is credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting, and reviving the ratings of TV-am...
. After later working as a traffic news announcer for the AA
Automobile Association
Automobile Association may refer to:*Australian Automobile Association in Australia.*Automobile Association of South Africa*Canadian Automobile Association in Canada.*Dominion Automobile Association in Canada....
she went on to present traffic reports for a number of local radio stations before moving to Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
. Her first presenting role was for the British Forces Broadcasting Service
British Forces Broadcasting Service
The British Forces Broadcasting Service provides radio and television programmes for HM Forces, and their dependents, in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Kosovo, the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Tristan da Cunha as well as a live satellite...
after which she worked for the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
and commercial radio. She spent some time away from broadcasting following the birth of her son, Harry, but returned later to become Chief Travel Reporter for BBC GLR. She joined BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
as the network's first official traffic news presenter in 1998, presenting travel updates during the afternoon and early evening. She has worked alongside Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (DJ)
Johnnie Walker MBE is a popular British veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster....
, Chris Evans and Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo is an English radio presenter who has worked for BBC Radio since 1981. As of January 2010, Mayo is presenter of Simon Mayo Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 and, with Mark Kermode, presenter of Kermode and Mayo's Film Reviews on BBC Radio 5 Live.In 2008, Mayo was recognised as the "radio...
on their respective Drivetime shows, Steve Wright during the afternoon and Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Guy Vine is a British author, journalist and news presenter for the BBC. He is known for his direct interview style and exclusive reporting from war-torn areas throughout Africa...
at lunchtime. During the early 2000s she briefly presented an early Saturday morning programme for the network. Boazman's reports for the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
frequently make use of the phrase "both clock and anti". The information she reads is also collated from traffic and travel providers Trafficlink.
Books, records, and activities
In 2003, she narrated the poem Crawl of The Light Brigade for the CD recording Guide Cats for the Blind. In 2007 she wrote the book The Sally Traffic Handbook and narrated a CD for the Highways Agency called Hear When the Going's Good, providing advice to lorry drivers. TomTomTomTom
TomTom NV is a Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems, including both stand-alone units and software for personal digital assistants and mobile telephones. It is the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe. TomTom's customer service is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
navigation has a Sally Traffic voice available for its GPS units. Proceeds from purchase of the voice driving set go to the charity, BBC Children in Need Appeal.
From 10 to 19 November 2007, she cycled across 400 km of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
's Rift Valley to support charity, Transaid, and in 2009, she presented the Gold level Sony Radio Academy Award for drivetime entertainment to her fellow broadcaster, Chris Evans, while in 2007 the Gold level Entertainment award honored the Chris Evans Show
Chris Evans Drivetime
Chris Evans Drivetime was a flagship programme on BBC Radio 2, which aired on weekdays between 17:00 and 19:00 in the United Kingdom. It was presented by veteran broadcaster Chris Evans, who moved to drivetime from his Saturday afternoon show after Johnnie Walker gave up the slot after seven years...
and staff, of which Boazman was part. She also won the Truck & Driver Driver's Choice award for Best Traffic Information in 2009.
On 29 October 2011 she presented The Road to Nowhere for BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in London and South East England, a documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
. The programme sees Boazman journeying around the motorway and examining its economic and environmental impact, as well as other ways it has changed Britain's society.
Stalking incident
Boazman was stalked in 2003 by Hilary Reeves, a "very keen fan who ha[d] gone over the top." The fan was fined £50, given a 12 month conditional discharge, and a continuing restraining order. The fan left her notes, and sat outside Sally Traffic's work and home for nine months. Boazman said the episode left her feeling "quite vulnerable."Personal life and pastimes
She lives in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
with her son Harry, born 1987, who is a musician. Truckfest
Truckfest
Truckfest is a transport festival in the United Kingdom centred on trucks and the haulage industry. As well as trade stands and music entertainment, highlights of the shows are displays of customised trucks and monster trucks...
has her as a regular participant, appearing in every event since 2002. A self-professed Francophile, she occasionally takes the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
and subsequently drives from Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
to St-Omer.
External links
- Sally Boazman's profile at BBC Online
- A biography
- http://fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear/videos/other/sally-trafficFrom Fifth GearFifth GearFifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
], Vicki Butler-Henderson takes Radio 2’s Sally Traffic on a Bentley chauffeur driving course