TomTom, a provider of mapping data and producer of portable navigation devices, has released a manifesto stating it aims to reduce travel times for all road users by up to 5%.
The company has committed, in writing, to providing drivers with the right tools - its HD Traffic service - and taking action to encourage drivers to help reduce congestion. TomTom will also make available the data it gathers from its traffic services, for external parties to analyse and possibly implement solutions.
Studies it has done show traffic is an issue everywhere, with up to 30% of drivers reporting increased stress, while 27% arrive at work angrier.
Its research also indicates that with a current total of 1.4 million connected traffic devices in use, drivers using the technology spend 15% less time in their cars. With 10% of motorists using connected traffic services, TomTom says a collective effect can be achieved whereby travel times for all road users can be reduced by up to 5%.
Driving green
One side-effect of less time in the car is fewer carbon dioxide emissions - something Garmin is more focused on.
Chris Crozier, CTO at Garmin South Africa, explains that all current Garmin portable navigation devices have ecoRoute software, which provides drivers with instant feedback on how economical their driving is.
Drivers can configure ecoRoute with their model of car, and the software then selects routes that have fewer traffic lights or stops, and lower speed limits. It also monitors acceleration and speed to determine whether a driver is driving economically, the result of which is displayed as a green leaf icon on the navigation screen.
He also mentions Garmin research from 2009, with regards to how drivers use traffic information. Crozier explains that the research showed drivers don't necessarily use traffic information to route around traffic, or avoid certain roads. “People just like knowing what's going on.”
On the move
TomTom's system uses its TomTom Live user community to propagate changes in maps more easily. Users can share data such as roads with speed policing, construction work, or lane closures. On TomTom Live connected devices, such as the TomTom Go Live 650, 750 and 1000, these updates are retrieved every two minutes.
Crozier says Garmin will launch a similar service, with user content and its n"ulink connected devices, in the first half of 2011. Its traffic services are currently operational only in the greater Gauteng region, with Durban and Cape Town coming online before year-end. Garmin Live Traffic for a PND costs R299 a year.
Users of Garmap for Mobile can load the application onto their phones, and traffic subscriptions can be had for R229 a year.
TomTom says its traffic data is available countrywide. A subscription to TomTom HD Traffic costs R499 a year. HD Traffic on its mobile application for the iPhone will release later this year - a subscription will still be required.
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