Renewed Interest in ITS Being Driven by Environmental and Safety Concerns, According to ABI Research

LONDON--(Business Wire)--
The main focus of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has traditionally
been on road-infrastructure-based traffic flow management aimed at increasing
the travel efficiency of personal, public transport and commercial vehicles thus
supporting economic productivity. But the decreasing traffic congestion levels
produced by the current economic recession have shifted attention to
environmental benefits and transport safety.

"ITS`s new environmental trend was reflected in the programme of the ITS World
Congress recently held in Stockholm," says ABI Research practice director
Dominique Bonte. "While ITS Stockholm 2009 aimed at covering all aspects of ITS,
there was a clear increase in the number of sessions related to green
technology, such as energy efficiency, clean mobility, emission and fuel
consumption reduction, climate change/global warming mitigation, air quality
improvement, eco-driving and carbon footprint reduction, electrical and hybrid
vehicle deployment, sustainable urban transportation systems, green freight, and
green flying".

However, ITS safety and security initiatives remain high on the political agenda
of governments across the world. On August 21st the EU made a last call to all
member states for the voluntary implementation by public authorities, car
manufacturers and carriers of the eCall automatic emergency call system in all
new vehicles across Europe by 2014. eCall is expected to save up to 2500 lives
every year as well as reduce the severity of injuries.

At the same time, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane
Reding, has warned that regulatory measures could be imposed if insufficient
progress is made by the end of 2009. In Brazil legislation making theft
detection and tracking telematics systems compulsory in new cars from 2010 has
already been approved.

"Regulation and government-led standardization efforts are expected to provide a
boost to the ITS and telematics industries," Bonte continues, "by enabling new
applications such as electronic toll and road user charging systems, probe-based
traffic monitoring and prediction solutions, and travel information services."

ABI Research`s "Intelligent Transportation Systems Market Overview"
(http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1000801) examines the main applications
within this huge field and how they are relevant to the global market. Business
and market drivers and barriers are discussed for each region. This report is
part of ABI Research`s Telematics Research Service
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Telematics_Research_Service).

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of emerging
trends in global connectivity. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia,
ABI Research`s worldwide team of experts advise thousands of decision makers
through 25 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit
www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

ABI Research
Christine Gallen, +44.203.326.0142
pr@abiresearch.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009