Articles



Navigating the Future of Global Mobility

Welcome to the ITS Now Articles hub, your central resource for expert analysis, technical insight, strategic thought leadership and educational content within the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) sector. As the transport landscape undergoes a radical transformation driven by digitisation, decarbonisation and automation, staying informed is no longer just an advantage, it is a necessity for industry professionals, policymakers and innovators alike.



Global Insight, Local Impact

While the challenges of congestion and safety are universal, the solutions are often local. ITS Now brings together perspectives from across the globe, highlighting international best practices while providing a dedicated lens on the UK’s evolving transport strategy. As the growing technological requirements of mobility evolve and mature, our content is designed to provide you with actionable intelligence.



We invite you to explore the different topic areas below, engage with the latest Industry Insight, find out what has been happening at Events that will impact ITS across the globe, catch up on ITS Thought Leadership and dip into our ITS Educational articles. Join the conversation as we work together to build a smarter, safer and more efficient future for transport.






Industry Insight >

We bring you a range of topics from across the ITS sector, to see more articles click here for the Industry Insight page.



An illustration of an empty work station in a control room

The Hidden Workforce Crisis in ITS

It's not just recruitment - retention, burnout and the lack of mid-career pathways

The ITS sector has spent the past decade talking about recruitment, but far less attention has been paid to the deeper, more structural workforce crisis unfolding beneath the surface.


Image of the panellists at the MOVE 2026 conference

Autonomous Urbanism at MOVE 2026
What Cities Must Get Right Before Autonomy Scales

The Autonomous Vehicles Stage at MOVE 2026 was the venue for an illuminating discussion to explore how safety, oversight and accessibility are integrated into automated mobility deployments.

Illustration of the issues raised by ITS UK's initiative Stuck on Red

Stuck on Red
From Obsolescence to a network fit for the future

I took the opportunity to sit down with Max Sugarman, Chief Executive of Intelligent Transport Systems UK, to discuss ITS UK’s new initiative “Stuck on Red”, which he announced at the TechTalks Theatre at Traffex, which I was hosting.

Image of the new AiQ Lite ANPR from MAV

Why Practical ANPR Still Matters
MAV Systems Positions AiQ Lite for Everyday ITS Deployment

MAV Systems has introduced the AiQ Lite as a lower-cost, lower-complexity automatic number plate recognition camera aimed at the practical realities of parking, enforcement and traffic management.

Image of the new pedestrian crossing at New College Worcester used for traing students with visual impairements

New crossing for visually impaired students
AGD Systems Enhances Safety and Independence for Vulnerable Road Users with Innovative Pedestrian Crossing

AGD Systems is proud to have supported the delivery of a pioneering pedestrian crossing at New College Worcester (NCW), a national residential school for blind and vision impaired young people.



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Events >

Updates from major ITS events around the globe, to see more articles click here for the Events page.



An illustration of a digital twin model overlaid on a highway

LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival 2026

ITS and Mobility Technologies that provide Innovation with Purpose

LCRIG’s annual gathering in the UK is grounded, practical and relentlessly focused on the realities of local roads, local authorities and the people who keep the network functioning.


Image of the lectern at the 2026 ITS UK Parliamentary Reception

ITS UK Parliamentary Reception 2026
Transport technology steps into the spotlight at Westminster

ITS UK’s annual parliamentary reception brought together policymakers, industry leaders and innovators to see why ITS is critical for the future of UK transport.

Image of Laura Demeo Chace on stage at the ITSA Conference 2026

ITS America Conference & Expo 2026
Detroit Signals a New Phase for Intelligent Mobility

The ITS America Conference & Expo returned to Detroit, the city once again became the proving ground for the next chapter of connected, automated and intelligent mobility.

Image of the launch reception for the 2026 Singapore Urban Mobility Week conference

Singapore Urban Mobility Week
Looking forward to the Leaders' Summit

Alistair Gollop looks forward to what will be happening at the SUMW 2026 Leaders’ Summit, which will bring together senior leaders and industry experts from across Asia, Europe and beyond.

Image of Mohanad Ismail (Tech Group Chair) addressing the DFRS meeting

DFRS Prague 2026
Europe's Most Ambitious Safety Data Partnership Enters Its Next Phase

The Data for Road Safety (DFRS) gathering at the Škoda production plant in Prague this month marks a turning point.



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ITS Thought Leadership >

The Thought Leadership series provides insight to a range of topic issues which surround the ITS sector, to see more articles click here for the Thought Leadership page.




An illustration of issues of public acceptance to data use in ITS

The Trust Collapse

Why citizens are losing faith in mobility data systems and what the sector must do next

Citizens are becoming more sceptical, more defensive and more resistant to the collection and use of data that make modern mobility possible.


An illustration of a humanoid robot directing traffic on a melted motorway

Climate Resilience as the New KPI for ITS
The criticality of climate resilience for ITS infrastructure

Climate resilience has quietly become the defining KPI for Intelligent Transport Systems because the climate itself has become an operational threat.

An illustration of an example of driver non-compliance, driving at 70mph in a 50mph zone

The Psychology of Compliance
Why People Ignore Transport Technology

We often discuss enforcement and infrastructure technologies, but far less often do we examine the behavioural psychology that determines whether any of it actually works.

Illustration of the issues caused by a lack of true interoperability in the ITS sector

The Fragmentation Problem
Why Interoperability Remains ITS’s Biggest Failure

For all the talk of seamless mobility, the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) sector remains anything but seamless.

Illustration of the possible impact fiscal constraints could have on mobility

The Mobility Recession
Why the next big shock to ITS won't be Technological, it will be Financial

How a structural financial squeeze is reshaping what authorities can afford, what suppliers can deliver and the future of ITS.



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ITS Educational >

The items in the Educational series provide an opportunity to learn about Intelligent Transport Systems and their underpinning technologies,, to see more articles click here for the Educational page.

For more learning resources, also have a look at our Books in the Publications page.



An illustration of a range of mobility modes being assisted by ITS

What is ITS?

Ever wondered what Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are?

Despite sounding like a futuristic mode of transport, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are actually technologies and systems associated with the management, operation and use of a broad range of transport modes and their inter-relationship with other infrastructure.


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Introduction to Roadside Technology
An Overview Of Major Technologies Used To Control And Manage The Highway Network

Technologies have been used for many years to passively monitor activity on the highway, however over the years additional features have been added to assist in actively managing traffic, these range from informing users about current conditions, so that they can make their own decisions, such as automatically warning drivers of incidents using roadside variable message signs, through to compelling users to modify their driving, such as by implementing variable speed limits or by using enforcement cameras etc.

Image of inductive vehicle detection loops on a UK motorway, MIDAS system

Inductive Loop Vehicle Detection
The Backbone of Intelligent Transport Systems

Ever seen rectangular, diamond or chevron black lines in the asphalt surface of a road and wondered what they are?

Image of an old fashioned vehicle detection system

The History of Traffic Signals
The history of traffic signals and how they came to be used on our roads as far back as 1868

Many people assume that traffic signals emerged alongside the rise of motor vehicles, yet the foundations of modern signalisation were laid decades earlier. Long before roads were dominated by cars, engineers and scientists were grappling with the challenge of how to communicate movement, warning and control, at a distance.

Image of a typical signalised junction in London

Traffic Signals - Phases and Stages
Part 1 - Introduction to Traffic Signal Principles

This article introduces the key concepts of aspects, phases, stages, streams, and cycle time, and explains how they work together to manage traffic safely and efficiently.



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