VISION: Road Transport in Europe 2025 - FEHRL

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In the Ideal-World scenario user stress would be minimised through the provision of a well maintained
comfortable transport system, offering seamless journeys by the most appropriate modes at a fair and efficient
price.
RELIABLE Travel
Requirement
For the infrastructure to be reliable there should be no surprises. Any disruptions that occur should be
predicted in advance and measures taken to mitigate their effect on users.
Developments
Maintenance is likely to be planned in advance and traffic flows predicted. Maintenance works may involve the
provision of temporary structures or temporary roads in heavily congested areas. Heavy traffic flows might be
accommodated by reversing lane flows when the majority of the traffic is in one direction. Whilst individual
accidents cannot be predicted, once an accident occurred it would be promptly detected and effective
contingency measures should be put in place to minimise disruption. Prior plans on a 'what if?' basis should
be developed for a wide range of possible accidents.
Preconditions
Increasing reliability can only be achieved if current models for predicting when maintenance is required to
the road infrastructure can be developed further. Thus a number of conditions will need to be satisfied, as
follows: the development of construction methods that enable replacement of road infrastructure at the end
of its service life to be fast and effective, and of improved maintenance techniques that enable maintenance
to be undertaken quickly and effectively; an understanding of user attitudes to reliability and uncertainty; and
an ability to predict responses to network disruption and congestion.
Path to Implementation
Under the Do-Nothing scenario journey times would be unreliable. It would be left to individuals to avoid the
worst conditions.
The Government-Led scenario would use traffic management measures to limit congestion such as advanced
traffic surveillance and management systems for example lane markings to aid flow and speed management
to prevent shock waves. There would also be incentives to encourage the use of public transport and the use
of different modes.