How VICS Works

VICS is a system that delivers road traffic information, including information on traffic congestion and traffic restrictions, to car navigation systems in real time via FM multiplex broadcasting and beacons.

Where VICS Information Comes From

Road traffic information collected from prefectural police departments, road administrators, and vehicle probe data providers is processed and edited at the VICS Center and then provided to car navigation systems through three media.
Those three media are FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacons (5.8 GHz) / ETC 2.0, and infrared beacons.

Diagram showing how VICS information is delivered
* VICS Probe is information that integrates vehicle probe data.

Additionally, the VICS information provided is displayed on car navigation screens using three methods: map display (level 3), simple graphics (level 2), and text (level 1).
The information displayed varies according to the media channel through which it is sent (FM multiplex broadcasting, radio wave beacons [ETC 2.0], or infrared beacons).

Information Display

Three Media

  • FM multiplex broadcasting

    FM Multiplex Broadcasting

    Road traffic information for the relevant prefecture and nearby regions is broadcast by local NHK FM broadcast stations.

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    Main information provided

    • Congestion information and travel time information
    • Information on restrictions due to accidents, broken down vehicles, construction, natural disasters, weather conditions, etc.
    • Information on parking lot location and parking space availability

    Information provided by VICS WIDE

    • Travel time information for multiple routes that reflect the latest congestion information
    • Event-related traffic restriction information
    • Emergency warnings due to weather and other conditions as well as heavy rain area information
  • Radio Wave Beacons (5.8 GHz) / ETC 2.0

    Radio Wave Beacons (5.8 GHz) / ETC 2.0

    Primarily installed on expressways, this method provides information mainly related to the expressway ahead in the direction of travel, covering a distance of approximately 1,000 km.

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    Main information provided

    • Information on travel time between interchanges
    • Congestion information and lane guidance at junctions (including parallel major ordinary roads)
    • Information on restrictions related to accidents, broken down vehicles, natural disasters, weather conditions (road closures, lane restrictions, speed restrictions, snow chain requirements, etc.), etc.
  • Infrared Beacons

    Infrared Beacons

    These beacons, which are installed on major ordinary roads, provide traffic information for 30 km ahead of the vehicle and 1 km behind the vehicle.

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    Main information provided

    • Congestion information and travel time information
    • Information on restrictions related to accidents, broken down vehicles, natural disasters, weather conditions (road closures, lane restrictions, speed restrictions, snow chain requirements, etc.), etc.
    • Information on parking lot location and parking space availability

    Support functionality provided by TSPS

    • Signal passing support
    • Signal stopping support
    • Signal change starting support
FM multiplex broadcasting Radio wave beacons (5.8 GHz) / ETC 2.0 Infrared beacons
Provided by VICS FM multiplex broadcasting Radio beacons (on the road) Infrared beacons (on the road)
Where it can be received Within the broadcast area Mainly on the expressway Mainly on ordinary roads
Frequency / wavelength 76–90 MHz 5.8 GHz N/a
Data capacity 50 KB (100 KB per 5 minutes) 25 KB 10 KB
Transmission speed 16 Kbps 4 Mbps 1 Mbps downlink / 64 Kbps uplink
Communication range 10–50 km 20 m 3.5 m
Information provision frequency 2 times per 5 minutes 2–3 times per transmission N/a
Effective information volume Approx. 50,000 characters equivalent per 5 minutes Approx. 25,000 characters equivalent per location Approx. 10,000 characters equivalent per location
Information content
  • Information for the prefecture where the broadcasting station is located
  • Information covering approximately the next 100 km along the expressway
  • Information for the expressway covering a range of approximately 1,000 km in total ahead of the beacon installation point
  • Congestion avoidance assistance
  • Safe driving assistance (combining maps, images, and audio information)
  • Information on interchange vicinity
  • Information for the ordinary road covering a range of approximately 30 km in total ahead of the beacon installation point and 1 km behind it
Level 3
map display 		Traffic congestion information, link travel time (expressway information), zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, parking lot information Traffic congestion information, link travel time (expressways only), zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, service area / parking area information Traffic congestion information, link travel time, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, parking lot information
Level 2
simple graphics display 		Traffic congestion information, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information Traffic congestion information, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, service area / parking area information Traffic congestion information, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, parking lot information
Level 1
text display 		Traffic congestion information, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information Zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, service area / parking area information Traffic congestion information, zone travel time information, incident-related restriction information, message information