EU adopts strategy on cooperative ITS

The European Commission has published a new strategy which aims to make it possible to deploy vehicles that can “talk” to each other and to the transport infrastructure by 2019.

The European Strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) is described as a milestone towards cooperative, connected and automated mobility.

Amongst other things, it is intended to define and support common priorities, develop a legal framework and address security and data protection issues.

Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport, said: “My ambition is to see connected and cooperative vehicles on European roads by 2019 and the strategy we adopted today is a decisive step in that direction. It will create the necessary conditions for vehicles to communicate with each other and with the infrastructure. This will make our roads safer and reduce energy consumption. On the long-run, it will also help integrate automated vehicles in the transport system.”

Digital connectivity is expected to significantly improve road safety, traffic efficiency and driving comfort by helping drivers to take the right decisions and adapt to the traffic situation. The European Commission believes that C-ITS can help in reaching the target of halving the overall number of road deaths in the European Union between 2010 and 2020.

“Communication between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users is also crucial to increase the safety of future automated vehicles and their full integration in the overall transport system,” the Commission said. “In other words, connectivity and cooperation are prerequisites to safe automation.”

The new strategy focuses on services that can be readily deployed in the short to medium term but offer long-term benefits for road safety, sustainability and automation.

“Data is at the heart of transport innovation and intelligent mobility. The legal bits have a way to catch up so it’s fantastic to see how the European Commission is playing a strong part in creating the right legal frameworks in which transport innovation can flourish. Simon Spooner, Partner.”

For more on developments in technology, software and infrastructure in intelligent transport, please read our white paper “Smart cities in Europe: the future of urban mobility”.

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