SpeedAlert Consultation Group Workshop presents final results, brochure

Date: 13 June 2005

The EC-supported, ERTICO-coordinated SpeedAlert project successfully held its second and final Consultation Group workshop on 31 May 2005 in Hannover, as an adjunct to the ITS Congress. Almost 50 participants, including representatives from all private and public stakeholders, enjoyed keynote speeches and technical presentations on SpeedAlert’s final results, heard conclusions from related activities and took part in discussions on the necessary steps to drive speed alert deployment.

SpeedAlert is seeking to harmonise the definition of in-vehicle speed limit information and warning systems and present recommendations for issues to be addressed to pave the way for a pan-European deployment of speed alert applications. The project is driven by results from national activities and its success relies on the ability to mobilise the various stakeholders and arrive at a consensus to enable large-scale deployment. Therefore, the project’s Consultation Group was established to invite all key stakeholders in the field of intelligent speed management to give input on preliminary project results through two dedicated workshops.

Workshop highlights

This second and final workshop on 31 May was opened by welcome and introductory speeches by project coordinator Vincent Blervaque (ERTICO) and chairman Torbjörn Biding (SRA). Project officer Bipin Radia (EC DG TREN) and Valerie Moutal (EC DG INFSO) presented their positive views on how the speed alert system can contribute to road safety. Investigating ways to promote and enable a pan-European deployment is therefore a priority interest for the European Commission.

The project’s final results were presented, covering all aspects of the SpeedAlert functional architecture and its associated technical building blocks. As another major project result, the SpeedAlert consortium has also developed a SpeedAlert deployment roadmap, which is divided into three main deployment phases:

1. Autonomous systems – Based on digital map data covering static speed limits with limited coverage (starting with motorways and main roads). Update of speed limit data is done through new map CD/DVD release.
2. Enhanced autonomous system for static speed limits – As Phase 1, with a complete road network coverage (including urban and rural roads) and possibility for incremental map update with static speed limit data.
3. Cooperative system for variable speed limits – As Phase 2, with European-wide harmonised provision of variable speed limits enabling drivers to adapt their speed according to current traffic conditions

 

Associated to these three deployment phases, recommendations for the work that needs to be carried out at a European and/or national level have been named to reach the objectives. One particular high-priority issue is how to ensure the collection and maintenance of speed limits in both a cost- and time-efficient way. Speed limit databases have proven to be a successful solution for the countries who have already undertaken this work, but more needs to be done to address this issue and develop appropriate public-private partnerships also suitable for European countries in which speed limit information management responsibility is shared by public authorities at local and national levels.

The second part of the workshop featured presentations from related research activities as well as those regarding the first available commercial applications. Fruitful discussions were held on the presented results, with the comments providing valuable input to the consolidation and finalisation of project results

The SpeedAlert project will wrap up by end of June 2005, but given the large interest in speed alert applications, a SpeedAlert Forum will be organised after the project's completion. The Forum’s objective will be to formulate and drive the necessary work necessary to create consensus, commitment and enable successful speed alert deployment throughout Europe. More information on this initiative will be available later this summer.

All presentations from the SpeedAlert workshop are available for download on the SpeedAlert website (www.speedalert.org). A SpeedAlert Newsletter with more details about the different presentations and final project results will also be available on the website in July.

SpeedAlert final brochure

SpeedAlert also used the occasion of the workshop to distribute its final project brochure. Designed by ERTICO Communications Assistant Stephanie Murray, the 6-page document provides an overview of project results, key project details as well as a deployment roadmap for the future. You can download your own copy below, or for a paper version, please send your coordinates to the ERTICO Communications Department.

speedalert_0605.pdf (738 KB)

For more information, please contact ERTICO Project and Development Manager Vincent Blervaque or visit the SpeedAlert website