Editing Traffic message channel (section)

== Operation ==
Each traffic incident is binary-encoded and sent as a TMC message. Each message consists of an event code, location code, expected incident duration, affected extent and other details.

The message contains a list of up to 2048 event phrases defined by 11 binary bits (of which 1402 were in use as of 2007) that can be translated by the receiver into the user's language. Some phrases describe individual situations such as a crash, while others cover combinations of events such as construction causing long delays.

In Europe, location code tables are maintained on a national level. Those location tables are integrated in the maps provided by in-vehicle navigation system companies such as [[Here (company)|HERE Technologies]] and [[TomTom]] and by vehicle manufacturers such as [[Volvo]]. In other countries, such as the U.S. and Canada, private companies maintain the location tables and market TMC services commercially.

Sources of traffic information typically include police, traffic control centers, camera systems, traffic speed detectors, [[floating car data]], winter driving reports and roadwork reports.