The Live Traffic service is available on a large selection of Garmin in-car GPS units including most of the current 1000 series nüvi models as well as the Garmin zümo 660 and 220 and selected older models such as the Garmin nüvi 300 and 700 series, as long as they're running the Garmap Africa Series 2009 3rd edition or later map pack.

 

A compatible traffic receiver (such as the GTM 25) is required which includes a 12 month Live Traffic subscription. The Live Traffic service is also compatible with Garmap for mobile devices on the Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms.

 

The Garmin Live Traffic service is possible thanks to a partnership between Garmin and Altech Netstar Traffic, a leading vehicle tracking company, which provides live traffic updates straight to compatible Garmin Personal Navigation Devices (PND's).

 

According to Dr. Chris Crozier, chief technology officer at Garmin Distribution Africa, the information collected from cars fitted with Altech Netstar tracking devices, as well as Altech Netstar Traffic probe vehicles, is collected and turned into traffic information that is streamed over either FM broadcast or mobile data connections to Garmin and Garmap for mobile users.

 

The data collected is up-to-date and is displayed directly on the on-screen map alongside icons which denote traffic congestion, accidents or hazardous road conditions on the current route. Thanks to this users will always know if they're driving into an accident zone or simply a string of roadworks, while also receiving information pertaining to how long the jam stretches for.

 

For some additional information, you can check out our review of the Garmin nüvi 1410 with Live Traffic functionalities. 

 

Annual renewal of the traffic subscription will be charged at R299 from the Garmap website.