Skip to main content

World Congress opens to news of Austrian telematics developments

Austria’s Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology has announced the start of a major test programme to evaluate telematics devices. Speaking at a press conference to launch the World Congress, Doris Bures said that from next week, 3,000 Austrian motorists would participate in a scheme to deliver in-vehicle road information. Geographcally-targeted information on road conditions, weather and traffic would be transmitted to drivers. “If you’re in a car driving on a motorway in eastern Austria,
October 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Doris Bures, Fedral Minister for Transport
Austria’s Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology has announced the start of a major test programme to evaluate telematics devices.

Speaking at a press conference to launch the World Congress, Doris Bures said that from next week, 3,000 Austrian motorists would participate in a scheme to deliver in-vehicle road information. Geographcally-targeted information on road conditions, weather and traffic would be transmitted to drivers.

“If you’re in a car driving on a motorway in eastern Austria, it’s not interesting to you whether, in the west of Austria, there is congestion in a tunnel. So, you will only get those pieces of information that are important for the sections of road where you are driving.”

The test, being organised by Austria’s motorway operator 750 ASFINAG, will culminate in an evaluation of the performance of the system and whether any modifications are necessary. “The goal is to develop the most sophisticated and outstanding technology that can be launched on to the market,” said Bures.

She added that her ministry had provided around €100 million of funding for ITS projects over the past decade and helped the Austria’s ITS sector to grow to 20,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, Christian Kern, CEO of Austrian Railways, announced that his company would shortly sign a contract with 1691 Google to aid travel mobility. Although details were still confidential, he said it would be similar to an arrangement between Google and 5344 Deutsche Bahn, the German rail operator, which provides a platform giving information on train connections.

Related Content

  • October 28, 2015
    When caring about sharing is good business for US automakers
    Although car-sharing and ride-sharing could drastically reduce car sales, David Crawford finds some US automakers are keen to participate in the sharing economy. Growing consumer interest in car- and ride-sharing, as opposed to outright ownership, and ride-sharer Uber’s recently stated intention to make its brand competitive with ownership on cost, are making the major US automotive manufacturers think seriously about their future sales prospects. Some have already begun exploring ways of entering the field
  • November 17, 2014
    Kenya to introduce microchip-fitted number plates
    Shem Oirere looks at Kenya’s plans to introduce a new generation of vehicle registration plates fitted with microchip technology by the end of this year. In a move to improve driving standards and prevent fraud, the authorities in Kenya are planning the introduction of a new numberplate system which will incorporate microchip technology.
  • April 24, 2013
    Slow development of Europe's road user charging
    Delegates convened in Brussels for Europe’s 10th annual Road User Charging Conference in March, when both positive and negative developments came to light for advocates of more widespread introduction of RUC. Jon Masters reports. Goings on across Europe in recent months have again demonstrated how very sensitive road user charging (RUC) is politically. At the 10th annual Road User Charging Conference in Brussels at the beginning of March, a Danish delegation was notable for its absence, but Belgian governme
  • September 5, 2023
    Monali Shah: "The way we move and the air we breathe is all connected"
    Be yourself: Monali Shah of Google and ITS America tells Adam Hill how showing her personality in business has enabled her to make deeper connections on a ‘non-traditional’ journey into transportation