Friday, 30th September 2011 - 11:30
ITS United Kingdom welcomes Transport Committee’s report on reducing congestion on our roads
Photo shows Andy Graham, White Willow Consulting, giving evidence at the Transport Select Committee for ITS United Kingdom
ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, gave evidence during spring 2011 to the House of Commons Transport Committee’s inquiry into effective road and traffic management. ITS (UK)’s written response concluded that “…ITS schemes have an important role to play in solving local traffic challenges. Such schemes should take advantage of legacy traffic control architectures and established best practice to provide customised solutions meeting the diverse needs of local communities. Closer cooperation with industry via frameworks and partnering to encourage innovative commercial approaches can encourage the growth of self-funded services, offering drivers greater choices and the scope to make better travel decisions.”
ITS (UK) welcomes the way in which the Out of the Jam report has taken on board our comments, particularly in its support for managed motorways, bus priority measures, civil enforcement of traffic violations, urban traffic management technology including the use of UTMC (the UK-developed Urban Traffic Management and Control interface protocols), and the provision of accurate, real-time information to drivers and bus passengers.
It is interesting to note that while the report makes no reference to the European Commission’s ITS Directive, the Committee’s recommendations for the Department for Transport to define the levels of information which local authorities and the Highways Agency should provide to travellers, are consistent with the Directive’s requirements regarding quality and continuity of information.
The report is very clear in recommending that DfT must have “..a crucial role as a strategic overseer, promoting and disseminating examples of good practice and ensuring that local authorities undertake their road and traffic management functions successfully.” ITS (UK) strongly agrees that this role of leadership and expert guidance is essential if intelligent transport systems are to deliver best value. ITS (UK) recognises the Government’s localism agenda and sees many benefits of certain transport decisions being taken at a local level. However, in order to use ITS to best effect, it is essential to take advantage of the benefits offered by interoperable open standards such as UTMC, and provide travellers with continuity of service across authority and operator boundaries.
Ends
ENQUIRIES:
For further information, please contact:
Jennie Martin
ITS (UK) Tel:
+44(0)20 7709 3003
Email:
mailbox@its-uk.org.uk
Notes to editors:
ITS UNITED KINGDOM, the UK association for the promotion of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), is a not-for-profit public/private sector association financed by members' subscriptions, and provides a forum for all organisations concerned with ITS. We work to bring the benefits that ITS can offer in terms of economic efficiency, transport safety, and environmental benefits to the United Kingdom - and at the same time expand the ITS market.
The membership, over 150 UK organisations, comprises Government Departments, Local Authorities, Police Forces, consultants, manufacturing and service companies, and academic and research institutions.
Members benefit from ITS United Kingdom activities including seminars, workshops and regular news dissemination. ITS United Kingdom encourages discussion on issues such as public/private co-operation, standards, legislation, information provision and new technology.
