How to organize a national RDS/TMC service in The Netherlands

The Ministry of Transport has decided not to be active in the distribution of traffic information. Data-collection and processing are, on the contrary seen and accepted as being the responsibility of the Ministry. For that reason she concentrates on the implementation of a countrywide monitoring system (data-collection) and the establishment of a National Traffic Information Center (TIC). The latter one will be a cooperation between parties already active in the field of traffic information; Police, Dutch Touring Club and the Ministry of Transport. Since it appeared that the market is not ready yet for the exploitation of an RDS/TMC service and regarding the positive results of the large scale pilot project with this system, the Ministry of Transport decided to deviate from her main strategy. RDS/TMC will be implemented and operated in the Netherlands under the full responsibility of the Ministry of Transport. RDS/TMC is seen as a basic system that can also be used by other systems/services. A separate study showed that currently the road-users are mainly interested in in-car systems that can help them to plan their trip. RDS/TMC is a first level of this type of systems, introducing it will evolve the interest of the users. The RDS/TMC-service will be implemented countrywide and will be accessible for "everybody" (who bought a TMC-receive) free of charge.