The use of real-time traffic information in pre-trip planning

The TIH (Travel Information Highway) is an open and independent association of information publishers and receivers who have an interest in exchanging travel information using an agreed set of principles Today, the TIH Forum is actively supported by government, regional assemblies, local authorities and passenger transport executives as well as an increasing number of private sector broadcasters and information service providers. As part of a contract with the Highways Agency (UK), TRL has developed a number of demonstration VASP (value added service provider) services using the data currently available from the Highways Agency using TIH principles. The paper describes two of these demonstration VASP applications: The Journey Time Planner and the Traffic Status Forecaster. The initial focus has been to concentrate on information available from the Highways Agency on the trunk road network before the start of operation of the HA National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) using the pre-NTCC pilot information supply system called QMISS. Their individual capabilities are described. Following these descriptions, suggestions are provided for how they might be combined to provide an improved service.