Skip to main content

Government plans to propel New Zealand transport into the future

Secretary for Transport Martin Matthews today launched an intelligent transport systems technology Action Plan that will help make transport safer and more efficient in New Zealand. The plan identifies what is needed in New Zealand for advancing the introduction of intelligent transport systems technologies. Intelligent transport systems use technologies such as sensors, computing and communications in vehicles and in transport infrastructure such as roads; and include such things as traffic control syst
June 19, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Secretary for Transport Martin Matthews today launched an intelligent transport systems technology Action Plan that will help make transport safer and more efficient in New Zealand. The plan identifies what is needed in New Zealand for advancing the introduction of intelligent transport systems technologies.

Intelligent transport systems use technologies such as sensors, computing and communications in vehicles and in transport infrastructure such as roads; and include such things as traffic control systems, advanced driver assistance, vehicle monitoring and integrated electronic ticketing.

Matthews explained that the plan takes a high-level, multi-agency approach to the introduction of new intelligent transport systems, which are becoming integral to transport in New Zealand and around the world.

“Intelligent transport systems could transform all forms of transport in coming decades,” he said. “Many technologies such as driverless cars, and the capacity for vehicles to platoon (drive closely together like train carriages by being connected electronically) are already being trialled in other countries. These sorts of technologies have the potential to fundamentally change how our transport systems work – while making them safer, more effective and more efficient.

“We are likely to see many new and exciting transport systems in the future. Some may even be transformational. For example, vehicles of the future may be so well equipped they are almost impossible to crash. We want to make sure New Zealand is able to take advantage of these technologies and reap their benefits as soon possible.”

Related Content

  • US updates ITS strategy for Connected Vehicle deployment
    March 16, 2015
    Jon Masters looks at the USDOT’s new ITS Strategic Plan for the next five years. Emphasis and direction for the next five years of Government led ITS research in the United States has been framed within a new ITS Strategic Plan. The US Department for Transportation’s (USDOT) ITS Joint Program Office (JPO) published the report at the tail end of 2014 after concluding a two-year ITS industry consultation process. The Plan identifies a vision to transform the way society moves and the ITS JPO’s aim of advancin
  • Virtual ITS European Congress 2020: report
    November 25, 2020
    ITS industry ‘needs to make a move towards each other’, Congress delegates hear
  • Congestion? Sydney turns to quantum physics
    April 13, 2021
    Australian city to harness the power of quantum computers to solve transport issues
  • Michigan fosters real-world testing of workzone ITS
    September 19, 2017
    Turning a ‘problem’ into ‘an opportunity’ is the mantra of just about every business book and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDoT) looks set to achieve that aim in Oakland County, where 29km (18 miles) of the I-75 needs to be reconstructed. Running north-northwest from Detroit, the I-75 carries around 170,000 vehicles per day but, being built in the 1970s, it now requires an additional lane in each direction and upgrading to the latest design and safety standards. Upgrading will be carried out in