Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS)
The VICS system supplies the navigation computer with information to enable the navigation computer to re-route the navigation guidance or to inform the vehicle driver of traffic conditions in the vehicles vicinity. Information is provided to the system through three routes:
- RF transmission
- Infra-red transmission
- FM (frequency modulation) multiplex transmissions.
The RF transmissions are generally transmitted from road side beacons mainly on expressways. The information transmitted is as follows:
- Traffic congestion
- Travel time to next intersection
- Traffic conditions in surrounding areas and expressway turn off
- Traffic accidents
- Speed limits
- Lane regulations
- Tire change
- Parking availability at expressway service areas and parking areas.
The Infra-Red transmissions are received by the beacon antenna mounted on the top of the instrument panel.
Infra-Red transmissions are transmitted from road side beacons on major trunk roads. The information transmitted is:
- Traffic congestion and travel time
- Traffic accidents
- Breakdowns
- Road works restrictions
- Parking availability.
FM (frequency modulation) transmissions are broadcast as part of the normal RDS FM (frequency modulation) transmission. Information transmitted is:
- Traffic congestion and travel time for wide areas
- Traffic accidents, road works, speed limits and lane restrictions for a wide area
- Parking availability information.
FM transmissions are received via the FM antenna and split from the normal FM transmissions by the FM signal splitter.