The Czech government has approved a new strategy for cooperative intelligent transport systems. By 2031, vehicles, road infrastructure and digital services are to become more closely connected in order to make transport safer, smoother and more environmentally friendly.
The Czech government has approved the Strategy for the Development of Services Based on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in the Czech Republic for the period from 2026 to 2031. The document envisages the further expansion of systems that connect vehicles, transport infrastructure and other road users in real time.
The aim is to increase road safety, improve traffic flow and reduce the negative impact of transport on the environment.
The strategy builds on previous pilot projects in the Czech Republic. By 2031, a fully functioning nationwide environment for C-ITS services is to be established. The Ministry of Transport is relying on a combination of ITS-G5 short-range technology as well as mobile networks such as 5G and LTE.
The new systems are intended to bring concrete benefits for motorists. Information about accidents, traffic jams, roadworks, dangerous situations or approaching emergency vehicles is expected to appear not only in vehicles equipped with a C-ITS unit, but also via infotainment systems, navigation services and apps. This is to be made possible in part through a so-called public API, an open data interface for external services.
Another key focus is improving the passage of emergency services. A national system is planned to support the movement of vehicles belonging to the integrated rescue system. In addition, data sources are to be better interconnected, automated vehicles supported and new technologies such as artificial intelligence used to predict traffic flows.
Rail transport is also part of the strategy. Pilot projects for C-ITS applications at railway crossings are planned. New data and sensor systems are expected to improve safety there in the future while also creating important foundations for connected and automated vehicles.
In the Czech Republic, initial parts of the C-ITS infrastructure are already in operation. The Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) has installed corresponding systems on selected sections of the D0, D1, D5 and D11 motorways. Expansion is also underway on the D2, D8 and D10 motorways. Several cities are already working on similar solutions as well.
Today, the system already provides dynamic information about traffic restrictions, accidents, traffic jams and exceptional weather events. The new strategy is intended to create the basis for gradually expanding these services across the entire country.
