In Switzerland motorized road traffic is reaching the limits of capacity in many areas. The accumulated annual total of traffic jam hours has reached approximately 20m, and is still increasing. The national highway network needs to be completed without delay, although for both ecological and economic reasons, a further extension of the country's road network is not a priority. Therefore, other efficient Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) -based strategies and solutions must be found and are being developed. The cornerstones of these new transport strategies and policy are: commitment to Sustainable Mobility (www.nfp41.ch, www.gvf.admin.ch) which will satisfy the need both of Switzerland and the European Union (EU); introduction on 1st January 2001 of the new electronic, distance-related Heavy Vehicle Fee (HVF, http://www.zoll.admin.ch/d/steuern/lsva/infoe.htm) for heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3.5 tons; Swiss Road Telematics Guidelines 2010; Swiss Mobility car sharing (www.mobility.ch); implementation of the new digital RDS-TMC traffic information system; public private partnership with Swiss radio and Swiss automobile clubs; participation in EU ITS R&D Framework Programmes; establishing and publishing Road Telematics standards (info@vss.ch); as well as optimizing IT data-based (STRADA-DB, www.strada-gs.ch ) road maintenance work strategies (Unterhaltsplanung Nationalstrassen UPlaNS); concepts for transport infrastructure, "Masterplan Roads", "Masterplan Rails"; mobility management and reduction of accidents, VESIPO, based on a "Vision Zero policy"; etc.
Abstract