In this presentation, the contribution new technology can make to the provision of seamless road-based transport across Europe is discussed. Road transport plays a dominant role in the provision of transport for both people and goods. However, congestion on our roads is a serious threat. The cost of this is estimated to be 0.5% of EU GDP and is expected to rise to 1%by the year 2010, some 80 billion Euro per year. There is a need for moreefficient and innovative means to manage existing infrastructure that contributes to provision of safe, efficient and sustainable transport suitable for the twenty first century as indicated in the European Commission (EC) Transport Policy White Paper and its recent revision "Keep Europe moving". Intelligent Transport Systems offer valuable opportunity for active management of existing infrastructure in order to alleviate the impact of congestion and in the process also realise additional road capacity. The level of deployment of ITS systems and services in the EU Member States variesconsiderably. The challenge is to ensure that the benefits of implementing ITS are fully exploited across Europe. Furthermore, in addition to collaboration across jurisdictional and organisational boundaries, there is a need for more active participation of 'stakeholders' that either benefit from the deployment of ITS systems and services or are involved in their deployment. The European Commission is instrumental and has an important roleto play in facilitating these processes through collaborative initiatives, initially on a regional basis, with the aim of developing a Europe-wide framework that facilitates seamless mobility of people and goods. More importantly, it prevents the emergence of systems and services designed to meet the specific needs of the country or region thereby introducing problems of interoperability that hinder free flow of people and goods in Europe.There is a range of ITS related initiatives underway both in individual Member States and at the European level. Work is currently in hand to assimilate all these activities into a cohesive ITS deployment strategy that can encourage wider take-up of ITS-based solutions that contribute to the provision of efficient, safe and sustainable transport in Europe. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
Abstract