(L-R) Ralf-Peter Schafer, VP TomTom Traffic, Harold Goddijn, CEO TomTom International and Dr Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Executive Director

Navigation provider TomTom (Tom2) has announced a partnership with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in which TomTom’s global Traffic Index data will be used by UN-Habitat and its stakeholders around the world to make strategic decisions when tackling urban congestion.

“Urban areas are growing fast; they are now home to half of the world’s population and are predicted to reach 6 billion by 2050,” said Dr. Joan Clos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, speaking at the partnership announcement.“How we plan and manage our cities in terms of basic services, mobility or connectivity is going to be essential to ensure better cities. TomTom’s data will give us vital insight, providing a more accurate analysis of urban traffic congestion. This will help policy makers and local governments develop sustainable, workable and lasting urban solutions.”

Recently TomTom released the 6th edition of its Traffic Index which revealed a clear pattern of increased congestion.Commuters around the world are spending on average eight working days stuck in traffic. This shows that traditional responses like building new roads or widening existing ones are no longer an effective way of managing urban congestion.

“TomTom is committed to investing in new ideas and technologies with the aim of bringing significant benefits to drivers, businesses and society as a whole,” said Harold Goddijn, CEO TomTom International.“This partnership will help urban planners and government stakeholders make more informed decisions to tackle urban congestion.”

Notes to Editor

About TomTom

Founded in 1991, TomTom (TOM2) is a leading provider of navigation and location-based products and services. TomTom maps, traffic information and navigation technology power automotive in-dash systems, mobile devices, web based applications and government and business solutions.

TomTom also designs and manufactures its own location-based products including portable navigation devices and fleet management solutions, as well as GPS-enabled sports watches. 

Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has 3,500 employees worldwide and sells its products in over 35 countries.
For further information, please visit www.tomtom.com

About UN-Habitat:
UN-Habitat is the lead United Nations agency for housing and urban development. Its mandate is to promote public policy and public and private investment to make our cities and towns socially more inclusive, economically dynamic and environmentally sound. It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has 400 core staff and up to 2,000 project staff at any given time. Please visit: www.unhabitat.org

Further information and key contacts

Cem Cohen
Global Communications Manager
+31 6 11 598532

Ana B. Moreno
UN-Habitat Spokesperson
+254 702 116 120
ana.moreno@unhabitat.org