System and method for improved traffic flow reporting using satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) and vehicle communications, navigation and tracking system

A system and method for traffic flow reporting are provided. An satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) system receives traffic flow information for segments of roads with service coverage at a vehicle. A vehicle communications, navigation and tracking (VCNT) service system compares present Global Positioning System (GPS) position of the vehicle with the traffic flow information received from the SDARS system. If the present GPS position is within a segment, the VCNT service system compares present vehicle speed with a received traffic flow speed range. If vehicle speed is outside a received traffic flow speed range, the VCNT service system generates a message with present location and speed. An automated traffic flow aggregation system receives the message transmissions and applies location-specific filters based on number of messages received before forwarding a flow speed revision message to an SDARS broadcast station for broadcasting the traffic information to subscribers. RDS-formatted (e.g., ALERT-C) location codes can be stored at the vehicle and used in the SDARS broadcast of traffic flow information to refer to segments.