European Lib Dems push for smarter transport

5.03.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Apr 2009

Today in Strasbourg the European Parliament adopted a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other transport modes.

"Every day thousands and thousands of drivers remained stuck in the traffic, wasting time, petrol and polluting with their cars blocked in a traffic jam or by road works, and probably think: 'if I only had known about that, today I would have taken another way'?. This report moves from a very simple consideration: by applying modern computer and communication technologies to transport systems, we can exchange information in real time to increase efficiency, reduce pollution and other environmental effects of transport and to increase the safety of the travelling public. More simply, we can make the way we move more intelligent", said lead Lib Dem candidate for Wales, Alan Butt Philip.

Recent figures indicate that road traffic congestion affects 10% of the road network and yearly costs amount to 1% of EU GDP and road transport still accounts for 72% of all transport-related CO2 emissions, while 40% of Europe's CO2 road transport emissions are due to urban traffic

Specifically, intelligent transport systems could apply advanced technology to integrate all aspects of different transport modes (rail, road, air and sea), to reduce congestion, control traffic, inform drivers, efficiently operate public transport, automate payment of road use charges, handle emergencies and incidents, etc.