ICT Innovation and Sustainability of the Transport Sector

Abstract

In this paper we address the influence of information and communication technology (ICT) on sustainable transport in two ways, i.e. by examining the relation between ICT use and transport demand and by examining the direct application of ICT in the transport system. Following a discussion of the various negative externalities of transport and a discussion of the latest insights into the impacts of ICT on transport demand, we examine the extent to which existing and potential ICT applications in the transport sector can assist in making transport sustainable or at least more sustainable than it is at present. We particularly focus on qualitative and quantitative impacts of several ICT applications on travel behavior (including fatalities) and on differences in the potential adoption of these innovations between the United States and Europe.