Intelligent Transportation Systems in Transitional and Developing Countries

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are state of the art approaches based on information, communication and satellite technologies in mitigating traffic congestion, enhancing safety and improving quality of environment. ITS are being used in many industrialized and emerging economies for the last two decades to facilitate traffic mangers in tackling the surface mobility problems. In case of many developing countries, policy makers and practitioners have been neglecting this 'non-conventional' approach on the pretext inter alia, 'technological sophistication', cost and institutional ill preparedness. This paper aims to underscore the importance and relevance of the ITS for developing countries as a complementary tool in the 21st century. In so doing, the intention is to bestow some fresh thinking into the transport debate, that will serve as a catalyst for resolving mobility problems in the developing countries who are still dwelling on conventional options.