Reciprocal vehicle, community and infrastructure data exchange to help power TomTom safety services

AMSTERDAM, Dec. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Location technology specialist, TomTom ( TOM2), today announced that its collaboration with the European Commission-backed Data for Road Safety initiative has resulted in a ready-to-deploy system to warn drivers about dangerous driving conditions.

Automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, road traffic authorities, EU member states and location technology providers, partnered on a proof of concept (POC) between June and October 2020. They have now signed a multi-party agreement (MPA) committing to the long-term, reciprocal exchange of data in order to make roads safer.

Using the latest connected car technologies, vehicles can detect and warn occupants about dangerous road conditions – for example, when roads are slippery. These warnings can also be beneficial to other drivers, automated-driving vehicles and road operators.

In the POC, vehicle-generated data, along with infrastructure information, was shared using a decentralized data collaboration architecture. TomTom played a critical role by taking these datasets, processing them, and delivering them back to other vehicles via its live Traffic services, and to road authorities.

Ralf-Peter Schäfer, VP Traffic and Travel, TomTom, said: “Accidents and other safety-critical events happen fast, making it a real challenge to warn drivers in time. With this safety-focused collaboration, we’ve been able to prove that a reciprocal exchange of data can power services that help solve this issue – delivering comprehensive hazard notifications to drivers, faster than ever before.”

TomTom has quickly adopted the available information which will be integrated in its consumer and in-vehicle applications to make sure it benefits as many drivers possible. In addition, the available data will be one of the sources used to power the newly developed Hazard Warnings service which will be in the first road vehicles in 2021. TomTom Hazard Warnings features an industry-first low-latency push service that sends detected hazard alerts to a vehicle in under five seconds.

Join our dedicated Hazard Warning s webinar on 10 December at 4pm CET to learn more about how TomTom is increasing safety for the road ahead. #FutureOfDriving #MappingaSaferFuture 

Notes to editors
Data for Road Safety Ecosystem includes the following organizations:
EU member states and road authorities: Austria, ASFINAG; Belgium, Flanders AWV; England - Highways England; Finland Traffic Management Finland Ltd & Intelligent Traffic Management Finland Ltd; Germany, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure; Luxembourg, Ministry of the Economy; Spain (Ministry of Home Affairs, Dirección General de Tráfico – DGT) and The Netherlands, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management;

Location technology providers: HERE Europe B.V. and TomTom Traffic B.V.

Automotive suppliers: NIRA Dynamics

Automobile manufacturers: European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA); BMW AG; Ford Motor Company; Mercedes Benz AG and Volvo Cars

For more information please visit: www.dataforroadsafety.eu

About TomTom:

TomTom is the leading independent location technology specialist, shaping mobility with highly accurate maps, navigation software, real-time traffic information and services.

To achieve our vision of a safer world, free of congestion and emissions, we create innovative technologies that keep the world moving. By combining our extensive experience with leading business and technology partners, we power connected vehicles, smart mobility and, ultimately, autonomous driving.

Headquartered in Amsterdam with offices in 30 countries, TomTom’s technologies are trusted by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

www.tomtom.com

For further Information:

Media:
tomtom.pr@tomtom.com

Investor Relations:
ir@tomtom.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36fba888-98c1-4c00-9b87-9f67d2edb7aa