The Traffication app warns of approaching trains

Bratislava, 30th of April 2024 - Škoda vehicles are getting a new feature that makes them even safer. This is offered by the Traffication app, which will now (still in the testing phase) warn of an approaching train when crossing a level crossing. The app, which is available for most Škoda vehicles, thus extends the existing safety functions and app options, such as warning of wrong-way drivers and alerting the driver to the risk of inadvertently entering a motorway against the flow of traffic, to further improve road safety.

"Škoda vehicles have long been among the safest cars on the market, thanks not only to passive safety, but also to the many electronic assistants and applications that are gradually being added to the equipment of most Škoda models. A good example of Škoda's approach to increasing safety behind the wheel of its vehicles is also the Traffication app, which provides advanced warning functions for various road hazards, such as warning of wrong-way drivers, alerting the driver to the risk of inadvertently entering a motorway against the flow of traffic or, in the case of the latest update, warning of an approaching train when crossing a railway crossing," said Roman Rajtár, Head of Marketing and Product at Škoda Auto Slovakia.

"We are pleased that Leo Express, together with Škoda Auto, is contributing to increasing safety at railroad crossings. As part of the test phase, we are alerting drivers using the Traffication app to incoming trains via GPS localization," said Emil Sedlařík, press spokesman for Leo Express, adding: "After the pilot phase in the Czech Republic, Slovak drivers on the Bratislava - Komárno route can now also rely on warnings before our trains pass, thus preventing potential accidents and further increasing the safety of passengers on Leo Express trains and in Škoda vehicles."

Safety first

ŠKODA is continually adding clever real-time solutions to enhance road safety. In collaboration with the Czech railway company Leo Express, which also operates its trains in Slovakia on the route Bratislava – Komárno,  ŠKODA is offering a new feature in its Traffication infotainment app as part of a pilot project. Customers already using the app can download the update now. An update notification will appear in the infotainment notification centre. Similarly, the in-car shop will show that an update is available. The app will be installed after being confirmed by the user.

Cloud-based solution

Real-time train locations are regularly transmitted to the cloud, which then communicates the information to any ŠKODA vehicle using the Traffication infotainment app near a level crossing with a train approaching. The warning about the approaching train is shown on the central infotainment display along with an acoustic and pop-up notification. ŠKODA is already working on integrating other railway companies across Europe, while discussions with several others are ongoing.

Easy download

Traffication is available for download from the in-car shop and online in the ŠKODA Connect shop. It can be installed in all current ŠKODA models apart from the ENYAQ iV, provided the vehicle is equipped with the top infotainment system from the third-generation Modular Infotainment Matrix. The app then runs automatically in the background without the driver having to switch it on. It immediately shows warnings on the central infotainment display whenever drivers encounter traffic hazards in their immediate vicinity.

More than trains: slippery roads and bad weather

Besides the newly added warnings of approaching trains, the app already displays other types of warnings either from traffic information providers or directly from ŠKODA cars. Traffication can warn drivers of severe weather, bad road conditions, or accidents ahead. In addition, the app can detect a wrong-way driver joining a motorway against the traffic flow and warn other drivers of the potential danger. Poor visibility can be identified, for example by ŠKODA vehicles switching the fog lights on, and this information is sent to the cloud. In addition, ŠKODA drivers can manually report traffic hazards to the cloud with a single click to warn all other ŠKODA drivers using Traffication. The app is now available in 32 European countries and issues warnings in 23 languages.

The author of the press release is Škoda Auto SK