Developments in traffic management, information and route guidance systems in Europe

Rapid increases in ownership and usage of private cars in Europe and the dependence on road for a substantial proportion of freight movement have led to increasingly high levels of congestion with all the associated problems of economic loss, environmental damage and safety. As these problems are particularly significant in urban areas, this has led to the development of urban objectives and strategies which include explicit long term considerations of a range of issues such as environment, lifestyle, safety, congestion and finance. An overview and direction have been set by the European Union (EU), although local objectives vary because of national and regional differences in circumstance, attitudes and opportunities. Nonetheless, common trends and issues are apparent in Europe in both the setting of objectives and the techniques used