Toyota announced today what it calls the 'Big Data Traffic Information Service'. It will use live traffic information from its vehicles on the road to offer a service targeted at local governments and businesses, and to help drivers during disasters.
According to The Japan Times yesterday, data from 700,000 Toyota vehicles on roads across Japan has already have been collected.
Local governments trying to tackle traffic congestion will primarily use the service.
It will use vehicle locations, road conditions, speed and a host of other data to provide the service - though authorities can also use the service to communicate routes to, and locations of, evacuation sites, or to warn of natural disasters.
Toyota added that it would offer some of the information for free on smartphones and allow drivers to share their own observations on road conditions, including roadblocks and strong winds, with other motorists.
On a consumer level, technology is already being developed when it comes to recording and analysing data to improve driving efficiency. San Francisco startup Automatic app, told us in an interview back in April,that their $70 app and device "learns about your driving style and gives audio cues and hints to encourage more efficient driving.” Some argue, however, that in-car Technology can do more harm than good.
It’s likely to be some time until this technology reaches Europe and the UK - but one sure-fire way of reducing the amount of money you spend on fuel would be to invest in a new economical car. You don't necessarily have to downsize either - as advances in car technology have seen more manufacturers introducing an “Eco” or “Blue” range.