Highways Agency to feed traffic information to satnavs

Date: 14/7/2011

Drivers with a TomTom satellite navigation system are set to receive up-to-date traffic information through the technology that could help make journey planning easier.

The Highways Agency has announced that it has signed an agreement with the satnav manufacturer that will see it deliver data to motorists on the 4,300-mile road network it manages.

A range of technology is used to collect this information, including monitoring equipment that is built into the surface of motorways, along with CCTV and some other sources.

While drivers can already make use of this data using the Agency's own channels, they will now also be able to access it through the High Definition Traffic Services provided by their TomTom.

Mike Penning, the Roads Minister, says: "Through our national traffic control centre, we source up-to-the-minute traffic data from the motorways and other major roads we manage and we want to get that information out to road users where and when they need it most."

The Highways Agency also provides updates through Twitter, its radio channel and to mobile phones.

Posted by Mary Treen