European standards groups CEN and ETSI have released the first set of basic standards for vehicles made by different manufacturers to communicate with each other and with the road infrastructure systems. The standards for Cooperative Intelligence Transport Systems (C-ITS) were requested by the European Commission in 2009 and have now been adopted and issued.
The so-called 'Release 1 specifications' developed by CEN and ETSI are expected to help prevent road accidents by providing warning messages, for example about driving the wrong way or possible collisions at intersections, as well as advance warnings of roadworks, traffic jams and other potential risks to road safety. Work is currently underway at CEN and ETSI to develop the next package of standards (Release 2).
Connected cars are expected to appear first on European roads in 2015. The authorities in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to cooperate on the implementation of ITS infrastructure along the route between Rotterdam and Vienna (via Frankfurt).
