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 managers in tackling surface mobility problems. In the case of many developing countries, policy makers and practitioners have neglected this "non-conventional" approach on the pretext inter alia, "technological sophistication," cost and institutional ill-preparedness. This aims to underscore the importance and relevance of ITS for developing countries as a complementary tool in the 21^st 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 developing countries still dwelling on conventional options.