C-ITS: Smart transport of the future on Czech roads already today24/3/2025|Press releasesImagine roads that communicate with you. They can tell you where traffic jams are about to start, give you early warning of dangerous situations, share information on speed and traffic density, and even help you respond in time to approaching emergency vehicles. All this is made possible by the revolutionary C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) technology, which connects vehicles with each other, with the transport infrastructure and with central systems. C-ITS is a key step towards autonomous mobility, but it is already delivering concrete benefits not only for drivers but also for road managers. The technology is already being introduced in Europe and the Czech Republic and its importance in transport will continue to grow in the near future. The Czech Republic started talking about cooperative systems in 2015 as part of the European C-Roads Platform initiative, which focuses on unifying standards and portability of C-ITS services across the EU. The national coordinator, the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic, is an active member of this platform and participates in the development and implementation of these innovative technologies in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is involved in the C-Roads Czech Republic, C-Roads Austria and C-Roads Extended projects, gradually implementing and testing sub-projects on Czech roads and railways. The C-ITS system, which will be developed by the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Road and Motorway Directorate and other project partners, is now entering another key phase that will bring it closer to full deployment. "Smart technologies in transport are not the music of the future, they are a reality that is already helping to save lives today. C-ITS provides Czech drivers with early warnings of dangerous situations, which contributes to reducing accidents. We want the Czech Republic to become a leader in introducing these innovations and offering drivers a safer and trouble-free journey," says transport minister Martin Kupka. Wide coverage in the Czech Republic In the Czech Republic, C-ITS technology is gradually being introduced on key transport arteries. The Road and Motorway Directorate equips both the infrastructure and its fleet on motorways. "Transport in the Czech Republic is evolving and we want transport to be as safe and efficient as possible. This is why we have started deploying C-ITS on key motorways such as D0, D1, D2, D5, D8, D10 and D11. It is another step towards the digitalisation of transport and better protection of drivers," adds Radek Mátl, Director General of the Regional Directorate of Transport, adding that the system is gradually being extended to cities such as Brno, Mladá Boleslav, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králové and Plzeň. Communication between all C-ITS systems in the Czech Republic is ensured by so-called Central Elements, which are operated by the Road and Motorway Directorate on behalf of the Ministry of Transport which is also currently building new national Central Elements on its own infrastructure. How it works The system works on the basis of information exchange between vehicles and transport infrastructure using the ITS G5 technology (dedicated 5.9 GHz frequency) and modern 5G communication. This gives extremely fast response times – messages are transmitted up to ten times per second, allowing accurate detection of critical situations. Important information is then displayed directly on the infotainment display in the vehicle, so that the driver is always aware of the situation on the road. "C-ITS is a technology that is already changing the way we use roads today. The driver will find out early on that an emergency vehicle is approaching and can quickly clear the way, but drivers will also receive information about traffic accidents and obstacles on the road or a warning about ice or a vehicle braking hard in front of them," explains Martin Volný, director of Intens, a subsidiary of O2 Czech Republic, implementing the system. "Digital road signs displayed directly on the car's display, help you navigate in changing conditions, such as temporary restrictions. This can make driving safer, smoother and more predictable," adds Volný. Smart transport saves lives C-ITS also brings major advantages for the integrated rescue system, where every second can make a difference. Thanks to this smart technology, rescuers can get to the scene faster and safer, which can significantly increase the chances of saving lives. The technology enables automatic preference of emergency vehicles at traffic lights, warns other drivers of approaching emergency vehicles and helps create a rescue lane through alerts on the dashboard display or mobile device. "C-ITS will let us come to the scene faster, but it will also contribute to overall operational safety," says Maj. Gen. Petr Oslejšek, Deputy Director General of the Fire Brigade of the Czech Republic for the Integrated Rescue Service and Operational Management. Volkswagen at the forefront of innovation Volkswagen is the first car manufacturer in the Czech Republic to integrate this technology into its vehicles and to have the necessary certificate for the operation of this technology. Models ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, Golf 8, Passat, Tiguan, Tayron, Multivan and ID. Buzz are already equipped with the Car2X system, which enables real-time data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure. "Volkswagen has a long-standing focus on safety and innovation. By integrating Car2X into our vehicles, we are giving drivers the opportunity to be better informed about what is happening on the road and thus helping them drive more safely and smoothly," says Jakub Šebesta, Head of Volkswagen Division at Porsche Czech Republic. Based on WLANp, Car2X enables the sharing of information between Volkswagen vehicles and new information and communication infrastructure in the Czech Republic and throughout the EU. Information about current traffic and traffic risks is available right in front of the driver on the driver information display thanks to a special gateway network and information sharing from emergency and maintenance vehicles. What does this mean for the driver? Owners of Volkswagen vehicles with Car2X support can activate the service in their car's infotainment system. Once activated, the system will start displaying warning messages on the screen – either visually or using audio. With adaptive cruise control, the system can even automatically adjust the speed in case of danger. This innovation makes the Czech Republic part of a modern transport network that protects lives, makes a better driving experience and brings added value to transport infrastructure.