DeviceGuru

The European Parliament has just approved a new Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) directive, aimed at creating a cleaner, safer, and more efficient transport system throughout Europe. The new is intended to accelerate the deployment of innovative transport technologies across Europe.

“This Directive is an important instrument for the coordinated implementation of ITS in Europe,” explained Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice President for Transport. “We will make a huge step towards the deployment and use of interoperable and seamless ITS services while leaving Member States the freedom to decide which systems to invest in. Today’s approval will foster a more efficient, safer and more sustainable, integrated, and competitive mobility in Europe.”

ITS technologies can make Europe’s transport system “more efficient while minimizing the negative effects on health, nature, the economy and quality of life,” adds the Commission.

Traffic congestion currently costs Europe around one percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). The Commission estimates that this can be reduced by some 10 percent through effective deployment of ITS technologies. Additionally, intelligent technology in cars and trucks could help prevent more than 5,000 deaths in road accidents annually, according to the Commission.

The Commission says the new Directive supports the EU’s ITS Action Plan1, which will “establish a framework to accelerate and coordinate the deployment and use of ITS for road transport, including the interfaces with other transport modes. The first priorities will be traffic and travel information, the eCall emergency system and intelligent truck parking.”

The Directive authorizes the Commission to adopt functional, technical, organizational, and services specifications that address the compatibility, interoperability, and continuity of ITS solutions throughout Europe. Additionally, the Commission plans to establish a European ITS Advisory Group, comprised of representatives from relevant ITS stakeholders, to advise the Commission on the business and technical aspects of implementing and deploying ITS throughout the EU.

The key objectives and priorities of the new Directive reportedly include:

• Optimal use of road, traffic, and travel data, including: EU-wide multimodal travel and real-time traffic information services; road safety related minimum universal traffic information services
• Continuity of traffic and freight management ITS services, including: ensuring information flow; tracking and tracing of freight
• ITS road safety and security applications, including: EU-wide eCall services; reservation and information systems services for safe and secure parking places for trucks and commercial vehicles
• Linking the vehicle with the transport infrastructure, including systems for exchange of data or information between vehicles and vehicles (V2V), and between vehicles and infrastructure (V2I)

Further information regarding the EU’s ITS initiatives is available here.