TRAFFICMASTER has teamed up with Motorola to create a low-cost device that will feed live traffic information to satellite navigation systems. The initiative aims to overcome navigation systems' failure to take congestion into account when plotting the best route to a destination. The venture will not include an automatic re-routing facility but it will enable drivers to identify hold-ups ahead on their programmed route and give the option of using different roads.

Such a system already exists in the new Jaguar S-type and David Martell, chief executive of Trafficmaster, said the company was now working with all the major navigation system suppliers to develop a similar facility. This will manifest itself first of all with the Carin system, now produced by Trafficmaster's German telecommunications partner Mannesmann.