University of California Transportation Center

Emerging new information and transportation technologies in data processing, communications, and vehicle control and navigation are often expected to become a promising underpinning in tackling the chronic transportation problems. Yet, at least so far, intelligent infrastructure and vehicle technologies have not been able to fully satisfy the nation's mounting transportation needs for congestion and safety. It is in part due to ineffective integration of intelligent transportation technologies in the metropolitan and rural areas. Such difficulties range from the issues of technical capability and system design to a variety of social and institutional challenges. However, if the technologies are successfully deployed to address the existing challenges, it may well be possible for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to provide substantial improvements in people's safety, mobility and accessibility.