How do intelligent transportation systems and technologies improve traffic safety and efficiency?

2 Collision avoidance

Another important benefit of ITS and technologies is to prevent or mitigate crashes, which are a major cause of fatalities, injuries, and property damage. ITS and technologies can alert drivers of potential hazards, such as pedestrians, cyclists, animals, or vehicles, and provide warnings or interventions to avoid collisions. For instance, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication can enable cooperative safety systems, such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and intersection movement assist. These systems can reduce crash risk by 50-80%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

3 Traveler information

A third advantage of ITS and technologies is to provide travelers with accurate and timely information about traffic conditions, travel options, and incidents. ITS and technologies can collect and disseminate data from various sources, such as cameras, sensors, mobile devices, social media, and navigation systems, and deliver customized messages to travelers through various channels, such as signs, radios, websites, apps, and personal devices. These messages can help travelers make informed decisions about their trips, such as choosing the best mode, route, time, or cost. For example, traveler information systems can reduce travel time by 5-15%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

4 Automated vehicles

A fourth aspect of ITS and technologies is to enable the development and deployment of automated vehicles (AVs), which are vehicles that can perform some or all of the driving tasks without human intervention. AVs can offer several benefits for traffic safety and efficiency, such as reducing human errors, increasing road capacity, improving fuel economy, and enhancing accessibility and comfort. However, AVs also pose several challenges, such as technical, legal, ethical, and social issues, that need to be addressed before they can be widely adopted. For example, AVs need to interact safely and smoothly with other road users, comply with traffic rules and regulations, and respect privacy and security concerns.

5 Public transportation

A fifth dimension of ITS and technologies is to improve the quality and attractiveness of public transportation, which is a vital component of sustainable mobility. ITS and technologies can enhance the efficiency, reliability, and convenience of public transportation services, such as buses, trains, trams, or ferries, by using advanced scheduling, dispatching, tracking, and fare collection systems. They can also improve the integration and coordination of public transportation modes, such as through multimodal ticketing, real-time information, and smart mobility hubs. These features can increase the ridership, satisfaction, and revenue of public transportation, as well as reduce the environmental impact. For example, smart card systems can reduce boarding times by 30-40%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.