Feb-March 2003

Real-time traffic data from the RAC can now be accessed by transport operators using the Opus Fleet management system from Microlise, enabling the system to reschedule vehicle movements in real time to take account of possible delays.

The development has been made possible by a deal between Microlise and RAC Live, a service operated jointly by the RAC and Trafficmaster (whose traffic monitoring system adorns the UK's roads and motorway overbridges).

The traffic data is fed to Opus Fleet's transport management centre via an IP (Internet) link. Opus then checks it against known locations of vehicles being handled by the system, and automatically sends an alert to the in-cab data terminals of any vehicles likely to be affected by delays or other problems. Opus's "electronic traffic sheet" is simultaneously updated with new details of estimated arrival times.

This is a special application of the RAC Live service, which normally sends traffic data directly to subscribing users' vehicles. Several in-cab hardware systems are offered to accompany it, including a spoken alert system called the Freeway at £80, a dash-mounted screen called the YQ at £189, and a more sophisticated dash-mounted colour map display with touch screen at £800. A typical year's subscription for the YQ-based system costs £110.