TomTom in deal with RSA to alert drivers to speed zones

29 Oct 2010

Navigation firm TomTom has launched new content for its sat-nav devices in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) that will alert drivers when they are entering or exiting one of the new Speed Enforcement Zones in Ireland.

The news comes as the company launches its new GO LIVE 1000 sat-nav devices that come with local Google search along with weather updates, HD traffic and mobile speed camera detection technology.

According to the RSA, excessive or inappropriate speed is a key factor in one-third of road deaths each year.

Last year, 80 people died and up to 1,000 others were seriously injured on Irish roads due to speeding. Reducing speed by just 5pc could save up to 50 lives per year in Ireland.

Icons within zones

Demonstrating the new GO LIVE 1000, TomTom country manager David Crotty told Siliconrepublic that as soon as a driver approaches a Speed Enforcement Zone, an icon will appear on his or her TomTom screen and a sound will also alert them.

The icon will remain visible while they are driving in the zone. The icon will disappear as soon as the driver exits the zone.

An Garda Siochana has identified more than 700 locations with a history of speed-related collisions and TomTom has identified a way of raising awareness in these zones.

The ‘Speed Enforcement Zones’ app will be pre-installed on new product ranges and will automatically be available as soon as the devices are switched on.

Owners of XL iQRoutes2 devices will be offered the Speed Enforcement Zone file via a free download from TomTom HOME. Zones will be updated if and when they change at a later date.

TomTom says that for older devices, such as the XL and ONE, a free Speed Enforcement Zone Point of Interest file is available on TomTom’s website.

”TomTom is the first to offer a navigation experience of this kind in Ireland. It’s not just about getting from A to B any more,” Crotty said.

“With the GO LIVE 1000 and LIVE services, we can provide Irish drivers with the best routing information available and help them to make decisions that save time and money; putting the driver back in control.  We don’t want our customers to spend time in traffic if they don’t have to,” he added.

The fully connected GO LIVE 1000 range has been built for people who love driving, but who hate traffic. With free HD Traffic for a year, the GO LIVE 1000 is TomTom’s first device range to feature the capacitive fluid touchscreen, which lets drivers pinch to zoom in and out of maps, or scroll through menus with the tips of their fingers.

The screen responds intelligently and sensitively to even the lightest touch, making interaction more responsive than in any of its predecessors.

Simple docking for device

For a quick start to the journey, TomTom has created the new Easy Click magnetic mount. Docking and undocking is now easier than ever – even with just one hand. In fact, simply holding the device against the mount glides the TomTom GO LIVE simply into place.

And there’s more: a powerful, super-fast computer processor allows speedier route calculation, while maps with IQ Routes use real speed data collected from millions of users to calculate accurate travel and arrival times.

Plus every device comes with new, richer maps covering 2 million kilometres, more roads across 45 European countries and more graphical details. These include even richer Points of Interest data – including business phone numbers and opening times – putting even more local information at the drivers’ fingertips.

The GO LIVE 1000 is available to buy now and costs €279. TomTom LIVE Services is now available in 33 countries. Free for 12 months, €49.95 for second year of subscription.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com