VICS processes and edits road and traffic information such as traffic congestion and restrictions at the VICS Center
and sends this out in real time for display on the onboard car navigation screens.
Information is provided through
three communication and broadcast media
Collecting Information
Systematically collects road and traffic information.
Processing and Editing Information
Processes and edits the information collected.
VICS Center
The road and traffic information is processed and edited for each prefecture.
The processed and edited information is sent from NHK broadcasting stations nationwide as FM multiplex broadcasting. At that time, the data is processed and edited to enable easy display of information through the three display types.
Providing Information
Transmits processed information to car navigation units.
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FM multiplex broadcasting
(NHK local FM multiplex broadcasting stations)FM multiplex broadcasting can provide information about the prefectures you are in, neighboring area and regional borders.
- Traffic congestion and travel time information.
- Information on restrictions due to accidents, construction, disasters, and weather conditions.
- Parking availability. -
Radio wave beacons
(Expressways)Radio wave beacon are mainly installed on expressways, and can provide information about expressways in a range of about 1,000 km ahead from the car.
- Travel time information up to the next interchange.
- Congestion information and turnoff guidance (including the main ordinary roads that run alongside)
- Information on restrictions due to accidents, disabled car, construction, disasters, and weather conditions. -
Infrared beacons
(Ordinary trunk roads)Infrared beacons are installed on the ordinary trunk roads and provide information covering about 30 km in the forward direction and about 1 km in the rear direction.
- Traffic congestion and travel time information.
- Information on restrictions due to accidents, construction, disasters, and weather conditions.
- Parking availability.