The car currently forms the backbone of the transport system. But the car is both the driver of the system and dependent on it. For the future shape of the business sector (Auto)Mobility, findings about developments in the mobility and transport system are there indispensable for Volkswagen: in future, will we live in the countryside or in the city? What traffic volumes are we expecting for the future? Will our roads be (even) worse?
To be able to answer these questions better, Volkswagen Mobility Research has predicted traffic developments in Germany until 2020 and drawn up possible solutions. The experts are agreed that private transport and freight transport will continue to rise, with motorways especially affected. However, this rise varies greatly from region t region and particularly affects the prosperous growth regions. The share of car and heavy goods traffic in overall traffic ("modal split") remains roughly constant. If growth is compared to the planned infrastructure development, it can be seen that the road infrastructure in many areas will not meat the demand. As a consequence, traffic will become denser and complexer. Furthermore roadworks or accidents disrupt the traffic, which in turn increases the risk of jams and accidents.
This model calculation identifies a need for action, both for society and for Volkswagen. Top of the list are the necessary investments in the infrastructure.
Furthermore, approaches of traffic management are an important component for the traffic of tomorrow. For example, these include nationwide diagnosis and quick dissemination of traffic situation information, the derivation of driving recommendations and optimised roadworks management. Because roadworks cause traffic jams and every prevented jam cuts pollution and the risk of accidents.
Intelligent vehicles can develop their potential on this basis. Within the context of mobility research on Traffic Performance Assistance VLA, Volkswagen has found out that an expanded registration horizon by the driver on the basis of technical perception of assistance systems motivates driving behaviour so that disruptions do not build up. In this way, minor disruptions can be avoided before they really start. Shorter journey time, lower consumption as well as safer and stress-free driving are the positive consequences. Overall, the interaction of intelligent roads, innovative traffic management and highly developed vehicle technology on an intact infrastructure is the key to more efficiency in the road traffic of tomorrow.
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