Across Europe, in cities and towns, policy-makers have to consider how the benefits of mobility and its costs may be shared, and how people may be encouraged to use precious road space most efficiently. The pressure is increasing to solve issues central to our social development and prosperity.
New moves within the European Union recognise the importance of intelligent transport systems to the wellbeing of European citizens. The European Parliament voted in favour of a new legal framework for ITS on July 7. They want to accelerate the take-up of innovative transport technologies across Europe. The EU believes that the costs of traffic congestion can be reduced by 10 per cent through the deployment of ITS, while intelligent technology in cars and trucks is expected to help prevent more than 5,000 deaths in road accidents each year.
Technology is not the main issue, though. Innovation is also needed to create a culture of partnership, developing ideas that meet local and national needs at the lowest possible cost and the greatest possible benefit for all.
There are basically three policy options: to build more road capacity; to manage the available capacity more cleverly; and to manage the way drivers use vital parts of the road network.
Building more roads is an expensive option, and not always practical. In any case, it is still necessary to manage the road network efficiently and to ‘lock in’ any gains from increased capacity, or else the benefits will be lost.
Let us consider better management. Goals are often expressed in terms such as improvement in journey times and “journey reliability”. Time spent in traffic jams is not productive, increases stress and damages health. The key to improvement is information. A city or region-wide database can include updated status of traffic and incidents, public transport services, car park availability and real-time journey data. Information may be transmitted to drivers before their journey by internet or mobile phone, by roadside signs, or by using intelligent in-vehicle devices.
Smart traffic management effectively increases the capacity of the road network without building more roads. As vehicle numbers rise, the advantage will be eroded. However, there is a further danger that even more drivers will be attracted to take up ‘free’ capacity, so that nothing is gained, except that even more traffic is generated in the end.
The third option involves changing driver behaviour in a positive way – and as we are mostly wedded to our cars this is the one that often causes resistance.
The type of vehicle a driver chooses can make a difference. Heavy vehicles emit more toxic fumes and greenhouse gases. Lorries driven around empty are costly for their owners and the community. The behaviour of drivers in traffic makes a big difference. Stop-start driving, heavy-footed acceleration and exceeding the speed limit rapidly rack up environmental penalties.
Switching to electric vehicles could create benefits, but requires investment in infrastructure for battery charging. For the moment, we are stuck with fossil fuels, and clever drivers will take action so that their impact is reduced where possible.
ITS technologies can monitor behaviour and build awareness of the need for better cooperation. Some individuals might object that their freedom is attacked, but are they the ones who most need some help from ‘intelligent’ systems? The true freedom would be to drive at a constant (legal) speed to a desired destination, making roads safer and more accessible for all users, whether on foot, by pedal power or on four wheels.
ITS covers a spectrum, from systems designed to ‘nudge’ drivers so that they consider their options and responsibilities more fully, to enforcement so that seriously non-compliant individuals are reminded that they live on the same planet as the rest of us.
Part way along this spectrum, congestion charging, eco-taxes and re-routing of large vehicles are used increasingly in a number of cities to lock in the gains from improved road capacity. Singapore was the first city to install a charging scheme in 1975, easing congestion in the centre. London, Milan, Stockholm, Dublin and Norwegian cities have schemes to limit traffic at peak times, with reduction in toxic fumes also being a key objective. Each scheme is quite different, and must be carefully designed to recognise the interests of individuals and businesses within overall economic and social objectives. Lorry charging schemes across Europe plough back money to improve motorways and services, with free-flow schemes using electronic payment. Road pricing can be combined with pay-as-you drive services including insurance, car parking and discounts for using improved public transport, funded by the revenues created. Smart cards and real-time information help travellers to make decisions that suit them best.
This is not really about ‘public acceptance’. The public does not drive a car. Individuals do. The total cost is borne by everyone, but at this point the proposed solution becomes personal. If one in 10 individuals decided to take the bus, walk or cycle, this would make the difference.
Policy-makers fear that the popular vote will come down against any form of demand management, while the travelling population and the experts equally bemoan the congestion and delays which cost time, eat money and damage health. As noted above, the true cost of driving is not always appreciated.
Philip Agius, in championing ITS Malta, is in good company worldwide. There are now similar national ITS organisations in most countries. Their membership includes public bodies, universities and industrial companies. The purpose is to cooperate to build centres of excellence where information can be gained, learning lessons and promoting best practice.
No single solution fits every society, but we need to look carefully at all the options. Rather than spiralling towards gridlock and bigger problems, individuals can be empowered to make smarter choices, which in the end benefit their pockets and their health. Of course it may even help to save the planet.
www.itsmalta.org
Mr Mortimer is an independent UK consultant on intelligent transport systems and runs Wyeval Consulting. He is currently in contact with ITS Malta to establish such systems locally.