A series of initiatives are being planned by the European Commission to promote 'intelligent transport systems' (ITS) in the EU road haulage industry. Speaking to the recent e-Safety Conference in Berlin, which looked at the future of vehicle electronics, EU transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said he was "preparing an action plan for large scale ITS deployment on all transport modes which I will present next year".
He promised that the EU's road transport industry will be invited to
help frame this plan: "It is certainly for public authorities to define the regulatory framework (standards interoperability safety and security financing, if possible and liability). But the private sector and the stakeholders must help to build the business case which shows how ITS can contribute to the main policy objectives in a cost efficient way."
Barrot plans to involve the industry in "active consultation over the coming months". In October the EC will publish an 'action plan' on logistics as "a key to sustainable mobility". He explained: "Part of this plan will be devoted to e-freight and the use of smart technologies. These technologies will be essential in all respects from safety and security to the efficiency of freight movements and organisation of supply chains."
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