Efficiency & Environment
The estimated 300 million drivers in Europe today would all appreciate more efficient road networks. Congestion costs the EU €50 billion every year, or 0.5% its GDP.1 As the number of cars and the distance travelled continue to increase, this figure is estimated to rise to 1% by 2010. Over the last 30 years, the number of cars per 1000 persons has doubled and the distance travelled by road vehicles has tripled. As a result, 10% of Europe’s roads are congested daily.2
Commercial transport and today’s just-in-time logistics operations both depend on reliable, predictable delivery times. Unforeseen delays have a great impact in terms of additional transport costs – borne by customers – and increased energy use and emissions, a burden that generally falls on the local population.
ITS, coupled with appropriate investments in infrastructure, can help increase the efficiency of our transport networks.
Improved systems that collect and deliver real-time traffic information to urban traffic control centres will help infrastructure operators manage the traffic more efficiently, potentially reducing standstill traffic and congestion by up to 40% according to recent estimates.¹ However, ITS technology has already made great strides to improve the efficiency of the road network. Systems such as coordinated traffic control, ramp metering, variable message signs, and traffic and incident detection systems have been implemented across Europe to monitor road conditions and provide for quick and smooth journeys.
ITS technology designed to improve travel efficiency can also bring corresponding benefits to the environment. In 2002, road transport consumed 83% of the total energy used by the transport sector, representing 26% of EU’s total energy consumption.3 With improved traffic management, this number could be significantly reduced.
Research shows that the fuel consumption of road transport could be reduced by up to 50% by encouraging efficient driving behaviour and reducing traffic congestion.4
Route guidance, traffic information services and driver assistance systems can contribute by informing users of traffic jams and the best routes, while systems such as parking guidance send drivers directly to an available space.
In addition to seeking such efficiency-related environmental benefits, ERTICO plans to look into how ITS can directly contribute to making transport more environmentally friendly through two main activities: developing support tools for driving in a more fuel-efficient way and technologies to supply route-specific information on traffic conditions, topography and air quality to vehicle engine management and emission control systems.
1Communication from the Commission: “Keep Europe moving – Sustainable mobility for our continent.” (Mid-term review of the European Commission’s 2001 Transport White Paper), COM(2006)314 final, 22 June 2006
2Communication from the Commission on the Intelligent Car Initiative - “Raising Awareness of ICT for Smarter, Safer and Cleaner Vehicles”, COM(2006)59 final, 15 February 2006
3Ibid.
4Communication from the Commission: “Keep Europe moving – Sustainable mobility for our continent.” (Mid-term review of the European Commission’s 2001 Transport White Paper), COM(2006)314 final, 22 June 2006
Efficiency and environment-related initiatives involving ERTICO:
CVIS — facilitating vehicle and infrastructure cooperation
• DEPN — dismantling non-technical barriers to CVIS deployment
• FOAM — building a framework for open application management
FRAME Forum — providing continuity and compatibility for European ITS architecture
i-Travel — Service platform for the connected traveller
RCI — contributing to free-flow road charging
SISTER — making road transport more intelligent with satellite communications
TISA — Ensuring synergy and adding market-driven impetus to traffic information technologies
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