The mobility of the future starts now: Thanks to C-ITS technology, vehicles and roads can communicate with each other in real time. This improves safety, optimises traffic flow and even helps emergency services to reach their destination more quickly. In the Czech Republic, this innovative technology is already being introduced on important transport routes – with tangible benefits for all road users.
Imagine roads that communicate with you. They inform you about traffic jams, warn you of dangerous situations in good time, share data on speed and traffic density and even help you to make way for emergency vehicles in good time. All this is made possible by the new C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) technology, which networks vehicles with each other as well as with the traffic infrastructure and central systems. C-ITS is an important step towards autonomous mobility, but is already bringing concrete benefits today.
Cooperative transport systems were first discussed in the Czech Republic in 2015 as part of the European C-Roads platform initiative, which focuses on the harmonisation of standards and the transferability of C-ITS services throughout the EU. The Czech Republic is involved in the C-Roads Czech Republic, C-Roads Austria and C-Roads Extended projects, as part of which various sub-projects are being implemented and tested on Czech roads and railways. The C-ITS system, which is being developed by the Ministry of Transport in cooperation with the Czech Road and Motorway Directorate and other project partners, is now entering a decisive phase that will bring its full introduction into practice closer.
‘Smart technologies in traffic are not a vision of the future, but a reality today that saves lives. The C-ITS system warns Czech drivers of dangerous situations at an early stage and thus helps to reduce accidents. Our aim is for the Czech Republic to play a pioneering role in the introduction of these innovations and offer drivers safer and smoother mobility,’ explains Transport Minister Martin Kupka.
Broad coverage in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, C-ITS technology is gradually being introduced on the most important transport axes. The Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) is equipping both the infrastructure and its entire vehicle fleet with the system.
‘Traffic in the Czech Republic continues to develop and we want to make it as safe and efficient as possible. That is why we have started to introduce C-ITS on important motorways such as D0, D1, D2, D5, D8, D10 and D11. This is another step towards the digitalisation of traffic and better protection of drivers,’ adds Radek Mátl, Director General of ŘSD. The system is also gradually being introduced in cities such as Brno, Mladá Boleslav, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králové and Pilsen.
How does the system work in practice?
The system is based on the exchange of information between vehicles and the transport infrastructure via ITS-G5 technology (dedicated 5.9 GHz frequency) and modern 5G communication. Important information is shown directly on the infotainment display in the vehicle so that the driver is always informed about the current traffic situation.
C-ITS also brings decisive advantages for the emergency services of the integrated rescue system, where every second counts. Thanks to smart technologies, rescue vehicles can reach the scene of an emergency faster and more safely. The system enables the automatic prioritisation of emergency vehicles at traffic lights, warns other road users of approaching rescue vehicles and helps to form rescue lanes by means of notifications on the vehicle display or mobile devices.
Volkswagen is the first car manufacturer in the Czech Republic to integrate this technology into its vehicles and has the necessary certification to operate the system. Models such as the ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, Golf 8, Passat, Tiguan, Tayron, Multivan and ID. Buzz are already equipped with the Car2X system, which enables data to be exchanged between vehicles and the transport infrastructure in real time.
Owners of Volkswagen vehicles with Car2X support can activate the service in their infotainment system. Once activated, the system shows warning messages – both visual and audible – on the display. If adaptive cruise control is active, the system can even automatically adjust the speed in dangerous situations.
