THE FUTURE OF ROAD TRANSPORT

This paper discusses various trends in the future of road transport. There will be substantial traffic growth in the next 30 years, as it is closely linked to economic growth. There are strong trends for increasing use of private transport for passenger and freight journeys. Road pricing would decrease the number of car journeys, but only some of them would return to public transport. Congestion seems likely to spread both geographically and in duration, so that more roads will need to be built, though judiciously. Roads can be built to simultaneously reduce congestion and improve the environment and safety. Improved public transport services can be supported by technology, but cannot persuade people out of their cars. A continuous education and awareness programme will be needed, which should be part of forward planning processes. New 'advanced transport telematics' technologies, and telecommuting, will change travel behaviour and demand, and applied to provide travel information and modify vehicles and their control. Short-, medium- and long-term plans will help to ensure the implementation of the many techniques and measures, that can be used to improve the safety, efficiency, and environmental quality of future transport systems. For the covering abstract see IRRD 869693.