The radio data system traffic message channel (rds-tmc) will be introduced in europe in the mid-1990s. Rds provides for the transmission of a silent data channel on existing vhf-fm radio stations. Tmcis one of the remaining rds features still to be finalized. It willenable detailed, up-to-date traffic information to be provided to motorists in the language of their choice., Thus ensuring a truly international service. As part of the european drive program, the rds-alert project has carried out field trials of rds-tmc. Testing was undertaken prior to and during the rds-alert project, and implicationsfor the tmc service throughout europe were considered. Tmc offers an exciting prospect of a practical application of information technology suitable for the 1990s and into the next millennium. Further tmc developments will provide interfaces linking it to other intelligent vehicle-highway system technologies currently under development in the united states, europe, and japan. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1324, Communications, traffic signals, and traffic control devices 1991
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