148 PART | IV ITS regulations, policies and standards
estimated 2020 to rise to the third position. Estimates of the economic cost of
these losses amount from 2% to 4% of GDP in developed countries. According
to several reports, 65% of the European population is systematically exposed to
noise levels above 55 dB, high enough to cause nuisance, aggression and sleep
disturbance (Abo-Qudais & Abu-Qdais, 2005). In economic terms, congestion
is estimated to cost around 2% of GDP in the European Union, with air pollu-
tion and noise at least 0.6% of GDP.
In most European countries, the problem of transport is quite acute, with
the continuing increase in demand for both passengers and freight, and this is
directly linked to the economic development of the European Union. However,
this demand is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in the available
transport infrastructure and the means of transport available. Thus sustainable
transport systems are critical both for quality of life and for the environment at
a global and a local level. This means reducing the impact of transport on the
economy, society, and the environment.
13.3 Intelligent transport systems (ITS)
ITS combine the implementation of technological improvements to a road sys-
tem with improvements that increase the road system’s efficiency. The goals
of ITS are to enhance mobility, increase fuel efficiency, accessibility, operat-
ing efficiency, safety, and reduce pollution. According to Bekiaris & Nakanishi,
2004Bekiaris and Nakanishi (2004), ITS helps mitigate problems such as traffic
congestion, air quality, and safety without constructing additional roads. ITS
include: advanced traffic management systems, advanced traveler information
systems, advanced public transportation systems, and commercial vehicle oper-
ations and others. Traffic congestion has economic, environmental, and safety
impacts on society. ITS can provide benefits to reduce traffic congestion and
improve road’ system efficiency and safety (WHO, 2015).
According to Haque, Chin, & Debnath (2013), three key elements of
modern transportation are: Sustainability, safety, and smartness. Because of
increasing concerns on environmental issues and climate change, Sustainability
of a transportation system has become very important. Besides environmen-
tal issues, other intractable problems of a land transport system include traf-
fic fatalities and injuries, congestion, noise pollution, depletion of resources,
and inaccessibility to facilities. Traffic accidents and congestion impose a
huge economic burden to society. Many strategies and policy directions have
been developed over the years to address the problems. According to (Haque
et al., 2013 ), these include: integrating land use and transport planning (Sim
et al., 2001 ), designing compact-city plans (Sung & Choo, 2010), implementing
transit-oriented developments (Sung & Oh, 2011), controlling the growth of
motorization (Han, 2010), managing travel demand through pricing and financ-
ing (Seik, 2000), promoting public transport (Ibrahim, 2003), increasing walk-
ing and cycling facilities (Duduta, Shirgaokar, Deakin, & Zhang, 2010), and