Ringing the changes

Traffic snarl-ups are the bane of every driver’s life, so anything that helps avoid congestion has to be good news. Combining sat-navs with monitoring systems is increasingly common, but these are only as reliable as the jam spotters’ data.

Leading portable sat-nav producer TomTom thinks it’s come up with a better answer. Its innovative system does away with roadside cameras and in-car sensors to source information, and uses mobile phones instead.

The result is its High Definition Traffic service, which is about to be launched in the UK – and we’ve had an exclusive preview. The system gathers information every three minutes and alerts drivers of congestion as it happens. TomTom believes its HDT will transform the way we use sat-nav, turning it into essential kit for all journeys rather than an occasional travel companion in unfamiliar surroundings.

The service’s strengths are its rapid information-gathering process and the total coverage it offers. This is possible thanks to mobile phone SIM cards and a tie-up with network giant Vodafone. Anonymous data is gathered from Vodafone handsets as well as via HD Traffic-enabled sat-navs with SIM cards. As there are about 16 million Vodafone mobiles in use in the UK – and around 500 million car-speed measurements are taken daily – virtually all roads are covered.

A 24-hour control centre cross-checks this data against government and historical statistics for accuracy. Once the information is verified, it is issued to HDT subscribers. Stationary or slow-moving traffic is displayed on the navigation screen, telling users the distance to the jam, how long it is and the extra time needed to finish the trip.

Sounds great – but does it work? We tried HDT in Amsterdam, Holland, where the system is already live. The traffic data was uncannily accurate. Not only did it identify the exact position of the end of our traffic queue, but the information was directional and predicted time delays accurately.

HDT is due to become available in this country within a couple of months. It will form part of TomTom’s new Live Services, which also include safety-camera data sharing, plus fuel pricing and local Google searches. It is expected to cost £9.95 a month.

The Rival

Among the alternatives to TomTom’s system is the Traffic Message Channel (TMC), a drivers’ information service broadcast over FM radio. It is available on high-end navigation devices, and covers most major UK roads.

There are two sources – ITIS and Trafficmaster. The former uses in-vehicle sensors in commercial fleets such as National Express coaches and Eddie Stobart trucks.

Trafficmaster has roadside sensors and cameras, plus data taken anonymously from the 100,000-plus users of its Smartnav guidance system. It will soon begin a digital TMC service.