Introduction

Abstract

In modern society, most of us have to rely on an efficient transportation system in our daily lives. Evidently, the technological progress and continuous investment which improve the networks have had a tremendous impact on the welfare development during the industrial era. Increasing trade flows and freight volumes and new mobility patterns are apparent signs of this. In this development the automobile has played a very important role. Even if we can expect and welcome major technological changes in the future, road transport will continue to service a major share of both passenger and goods markets in the foreseeable future. This means that the automobile — the Janus symbol of freedom and environmental threat — will continue to be the major constituent of the transportation system at least for the next decades.