Ford drivers get traffic information, Suna rather than later
The Suna Traffic channel is the company behind Ford's sophisticated new traffic management systemFord will offer its satnav-equipped Falcons with what is a first for the Australian automotive consumer. Real-time traffic information has been available in Europe for years, but the FG Falcon now introduces such a system locally, operating through the car's satellite navigation system.
The new system, which is also updated with the latest version of Sensis Whereis map data (Version 15), changes the value of the satellite navigation system -- from infrequently used tool for locating unknown destination to commonly used aid to expedite travel to known destinations.
Suna Traffic Channel obtains real-time traffic information through local roads authorities (such as VicRoads in Victoria) to highlight traffic hot spots that can cause delays. This information is transferred to the car through the already known quantity of RDS (Radio Data System) transmission on the same band of VHF frequencies as FM radio stations.
The international standard for transmitting this encoded information via RDS is named Traffic Message Channel (TMC). TMC data is collated within the car and displayed appropriately through the Falcon's Interior Command Centre (ICC) could LCD screen in the centre fascia.
Ford and Suna have collaborated on this project to provide drivers with the best available data for the purpose of avoiding traffic delays and -- if unavoidable -- determining the change to the ETA. Such data is gathered through safety cameras, traffic control centres, traffic lights and road sensors.
To date, the Sensis map data has been collated for the three mainland capitals along the eastern seaboard, with Adelaide and Perth to follow later this year, Canberra after that and the entire roll-out process to be complete within 18 months.
The upgraded satellite navigation system is priced at $2290 for all FG sedans and the XR Utes, with effect from August production.
For the present, this system is not available with the Territory SUV. In fact, the electronics system on board the Tezza is too far removed for this system to be integrated, but we can see this being among the upgrades for the Territory when (when?) it introduces diesel power.
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