GST Safety Channel

Helping safer and more efficient mobility with dynamic traffic information

Real-time traffic and travel information can contribute greatly to safety by warning drivers of accidents, dangerous situations and stress-causing traffic congestion. But at present there is no “reserved” channel to deliver such information, and safety messages do not get priority treatment when generated and delivered or when received, interpreted and presented to the driver.

The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) – currently the principal technology for delivering traffic information data messages to drivers – has experienced a rapid market expansion over the last years. However, it is not sophisticated enough to handle all road environments and applications. In particular, urban areas and safety applications pose a challenge. The Safety Channel project - a subproject of the GST Integrated Project - is therefore investigating the potential of technologies going beyond TMC, such as broadband terrestrial and broadcasting, to enable the supply of a full range of services – even in urban areas.

Safety Channel will develop and validate a concept for the priority communication of dynamic traffic information to drivers. Furthermore, it will support the generation, management and delivery of safety-related information such as variable speed limits, hazard warnings and weather alerts. This in turn is expected to indirectly boost the telematics services market.

Objectives

• Facilitate the creation and delivery of detailed safety information to all drivers, in all areas across Europe.
• Create a “virtual” channel for priority broadcasting of safety information, destined for both urban and interurban applications.
• Identify and flag safety information so that such info can be prioritised throughout the service chain.
• Deliver safety information to drivers in the most efficient way.
• Integrate Safety Channel into architecture developed by GST and its subprojects.

Duration and Funding
March 2004 - February 2007, funding through the EC Directorate General Information Society and Media

Consortium

ERTICO (sub-project leader), BMW, EBU, GEWI, Navteq, PTV, Robert Bosch, SES Global, Swedish Road Administration, TDF, Tele Atlas, TNO

Contact
Erwin Vermassen

+32 (0)2 400 07 42

See all GST news articles from the ERTICO Newsroom

Visit the GST Safety Channel website