In order to accelerate the digital transition and smarter mobility in the European Union, the European Council adopted on October 23 a new framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) through the revision of Directive 2010/40/EU, which will serve as a framework for accelerating and coordinating the deployment and use of ITS applied to road transport and its interfaces with other modes.
Indeed, in light of major technological developments since then, a fundamental reform of the legislative framework has become necessary. To this end, on Dec. 15, 2021, the Commission had submitted a proposal to revise the directive as part of a package of legislative initiatives designed to contribute to the goals of decarbonization, digitization and increased resilience of transportation infrastructure.
The revised directive will therefore take into account technological developments, such as connected and automated mobility, on-demand mobility applications, and multimodal transportation offerings. It also intends to accelerate the availability and improve the interoperability of digital data that powers services such as multimodal travel planners and navigation services. This will enable vehicles and road infrastructures to communicate with each other, for example to report unexpected events such as a traffic jam, thus in effect representing an important step toward the realization of the common European mobility data space.
The new directive also extends the scope to include emerging services, such as multimodal mobility information, booking and ticketing services (e.g., apps to search and book trips that combine public transportation, shared cars, or rental bicycles), vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, and automated mobility. It also sets important targets for the digitization of crucial information, such as that related to speed limits, road works, and multimodal access nodes, as well as the provision of essential services, such as road safety information. The benefits to transport users will come in the form of wider coverage of real-time information and more accurate intelligent speed adaptation systems.
The implementation program for the new legislation will cover at least the next 5 years, as well as a precise geographic extent of the road network for which reusable data must be available as a basic requirement. Through delegated acts, the Commission may further supplement certain aspects of the implementation program. In addition, the annexes to the new directive list the necessary types of data-including access conditions to tunnels and bridges, speed limits, traffic plans, permanent access restrictions, road closures, road works, temporary traffic management measures-and essential services-such as traffic information services related to road safety-that must be made available throughout the Union.
Member states will now have to comply with the provisions of the new directive within 24 months of its entry into force.
Source: European Council
