The minister with responsibility for the future of transport has pledged that, as one of the founding Intelligent Transport Systems nations, the UK will continue to lead on innovation to solve the mobility challenges faced around the world.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport Rachel Maclean was addressing a trade event involving the UK, Estonia and Finland that was co-organised by ITS (UK). She told delegates of the value of ITS to the economy, with 15,000 people working in the ITS sector, and thousands more in the supply chain.
“Technologies such as SCOOT and MOVA, designed in the UK, now manage traffic flows from Croydon to California,” she said. “These have led to more efficient journeys, lower emissions and safer speeds, benefiting the economy, our planet and our personal safety. Another British invention – Automatic Number Plate Recognition – is used globally to enforce traffic laws, including compliance with low emission and clean air zones.”
She also focussed on the future potential of ITS saying, “It will be crucial to making Mobility as a Service a reality for all, allowing us to plan, use and pay for bus, train and taxi journeys via a single app on our phones. It will help design smarter urban spaces, where transport infrastructure enhances liveability, and it will take us a step closer to connected and autonomous vehicles, providing the safe effortless travel of the future.”
The full text is here:
Rachel Maclean – ITS Trade event
Hello, it’s a pleasure to say a few words at this important event.
Throughout history, technological advances in transport usually encountered resistance.
Those who opposed railways in the 1830s thought trains caused insanity amongst passengers.
And Henry Ford summed up this tech-phobia when he said people just wanted “faster horses”.
These advances, however, ensured people could overcome the challenges of the day…
Allowing them to travel further and faster…
To access jobs and education…
And boost their quality of life.
Today’s challenges are increasingly complex.
We have a warming planet, congested roads and rising demand for public transport.
These are international, not local, issues, requiring leadership and innovation across borders.
As one of the founding ITS nations, the UK will continue to lead.
We have 15,000 people working in the ITS sector, with thousands more in the supply chain.
Technologies such as SCOOT and MOVA, designed in the UK, now manage traffic flows from Croydon to California.
These have led to more efficient journeys, lower emissions and safer speeds…
Benefiting the economy, our planet and our personal safety.
Another British invention – Automatic Number Plate Recognition – is used globally to enforce traffic laws, including compliance with low emission and clean air zones.
However, what most excites me is the future potential of ITS.
It will be crucial to making Mobility as a Service a reality for all…
Allowing us to plan, use and pay for bus, train and taxi journeys via a single app on our phones.
It will help design smarter urban spaces, where transport infrastructure enhances liveability.
And it will take us a step closer to connected and autonomous vehicles…
Providing the safe effortless travel of the future.
Throughout, Government will continue to provide support.
Such as backing ITS trials across the UK – from digitising traffic regulation orders and creating the first National Parking Platform…
To my recent announcement paving the way for self-driving vehicles on British roads this year.
To finish, I want to reiterate the importance of trade events like this.
The free exchange of ideas and commerce unlocks opportunity and overcomes challenges.
That’s why the UK Government will always back British business on the global stage…
Making it as easy as possible to export our ITS expertise and services…
So we can continue to make travel across the world better, easier and safer.
Thank you.
(Picture – Gov.uk)
