On 16 December 2008, the European Commission took a major step towards the deployment and use of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in road transport. The Action Plan adopted suggests a number of targeted measures and a proposal for a Directive laying down the framework for their implementation. ITS can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer and more efficient transport system. The goal is to create the momentum necessary to speed up market penetration of rather mature ITS applications and services in Europe.

The Action Plan outlines six priority areas for action. For each area a set of specific actions and a clear timetable are identified:

1. Optimal use of road, traffic and travel data
   1. EU-wide real-time traffic and travel information services
   2. Optimization of the collection and provision of road data
   3. Definition of specifications for data and procedures for the free provision of minimum universal traffic information services
   4. National multimodal door-to-door journey planners
2. Continuity of traffic and freight management ITS services on European transport corridors and in conurbations
   1. Continuity of ITS services
   2. eFreight
   3. European ITS Framework architecture
   4. Electronic road toll systems
3. Road safety and security
   1. Promotion of deployment of advanced driver assistance systems and safety and security-related ITS systems, including their installation in new vehicles
   2. eCall
   3. Human-Machine-Interfaces
   4. Vulnerable road users
   5. Secure parking places
4. Integration of the vehicle into the transport infrastructure
   1. Adoption of an open in-vehicle platform architecture
   2. Development and evaluation of cooperative systems
   3. Definition of specifications for infrastructure-to-infrastructure (I2I), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication in co-operative systems
   4. Definition of a mandate for the European Standardization Organizations
5. Data security and protection, and liability issues
   1. Assess the security and personal data protection aspects related to the handling of data in ITS applications and services and propose measures in full compliance with Community legislation
   2. Address the liability issues pertaining to the use of ITS applications and notably in-vehicle safety systems
6. Optimal use of road, traffic and travel data
   1. Proposal for a legal framework for European coordination on the Europe-wide deployment of ITS
   2. Development of a decision-support toolkit for investment decisions in ITS applications and services
   3. Development of guidelines for the public funding
   4. ITS collaboration platform for urban mobility.

The European Commission will report on the progress of the implementation of this Action Plan in 2012. This report will also review and, if necessary, extend the priority areas as well as the scope of the actions.