# An Overview of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Europe
## 2 A Brief History of ITSs in Europe  
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the use of ITSs due to the high demand to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of transport in Europe. These systems use modern communication and information technologies to improve traffic management, reduce environmental impacts and increase road safety [4]. The adoption of Directive 2010/40/EU marked an important step in the formalization of ITSs in the EU. It established a framework for the coordinated deployment of ITS applications in all Member States. The aim of this Directive was to help ITS technologies work together across Europe [5]. ITS technology has changed the way transport in Europe has evolved, as shown in Figure 3. This highlights the importance of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITSs), autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things (IoT) in increasing operational efficiency, safety and traffic flow. C-ITSs enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion and increase road safety by facilitating V2I and V2V communication. The dynamic management of transportation networks and sharing of real-time traffic data are possible due to this connectivity [6]. Figure 3: The role of ITSs in European transportation. Autonomous vehicles operate without human intervention using sophisticated sensors, machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence. By optimizing traffic flows, reducing crashes and facilitating access for people who cannot drive, these types of vehicles have the potential to change the way transportation is carried out [7]. Thanks to technologies embedded in the Internet of Things, data can be collected and analyzed from various sources, such as mobile devices, infrastructure and vehicles. This data-driven approach facilitates real-time decision-making, such as optimizing transportation operations and the predictive maintenance of infrastructure [8]. ITSs were initially developed to address road traffic congestion and rising emissions in Europe. Research initiatives and pilot projects investigated the integration of transport systems with information and communication technology (ICT) in the 1990s. These efforts laid the foundation for the development of dynamic traffic management systems as well as real-time data-driven decision-making systems [9]. Directive 2010/40/EU marked an important step in the regulation of ITSs in Europe. It highlighted the importance of collaboration between Member States, industry stakeholders and public authorities to ensure that ITS applications are implemented in a coherent and coordinated manner. Road safety, congestion reduction and reductions in pollutant emissions were the main priorities of the Directive [10]. The Directive initiated a series of programs to encourage the deployment of ITSs in European regions. For example, the Euralille 3000 project used ITSs in urban areas to enhance traffic monitoring and public transport organization, and to improve the quality of life in the city [11]. In addition, the European Union has prioritized vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technologies, which facilitate seamless interaction between vehicles and road traffic management systems. This advance in real-time data transfer has improved road safety and traffic flow management [12]. Consequently, a number of studies have examined in detail the development and strategic application of ITSs in Europe. For example, [PERSON] [1] examines the development of V2V and V2I communication standards. He shows how a decade of research and development, as well as pilot projects, paved the way for cooperative ITSs. This led to the finalization of C-ITS standards by 2014 and enabled the launch of connected mobility services in that year. Furthermore, [PERSON] [2] provides a historical overview of ITS in Europe, from the first research in telematics to the principles of modern ITS.