Shanghai drivers will be able to get the country's most specific information on traffic and road conditions from local television and radio by the end of year, the Shanghai Traffic Information Center announced yesterday.

Shanghai Traffic Information Center launched a pilot "traffic index" in March that grades traffic conditions on a scale from one to 100, said Ma Weimin, the center's director. The index will compliment the red, orange and green system that the center currently uses.

"For decades, we have used three colors to illustrate traffic conditions to drivers," Ma told the Global Times. "We have received feedback from drivers that they need more specific information to plan their trips."

Ma said the traffic center receives real-time traffic conditions from cameras along major roads in Shanghai and translates the road conditions into an index.

More than 20,000 taxis in Shanghai also have global positioning systems that transmit traffic data to the center. "A reading below 20 means that the road conditions are good," Ma said. "A reading above 80 means the traffic on the specific road is heavy and drivers should try to take less congested roads."

Currently, Shanghai Traffic Information Center only releases the new index during rush hours on their official microblog on Weibo.com, which has about 1,300 followers.

"We want the index to reach more drivers, so we are working with local television and radio stations," Ma said. "When the road conditions reach more people, it can help ease congestion during rush hours."

A commuter, surnamed Zhang, told the Global Times that she had been following the new index since it was launched in March. "I check the index before I leave home for work," she said. "When the index gets above 30, I take the subway instead of driving."

The Shanghai Traffic Information Center said FM105.7, the traffic station popular among drivers, is likely to use the new index during their hourly radio broadcast by the end of the year.

Huang Lanlan contributed to this story