Adil Karaismailoğlu, the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works, Planning, Transportation and Tourism of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), gave a presentation on smart transportation systems at the “4th International Intelligent Transportation Systems Summit” held at Hacettepe University Tunçalp Özgen Congress and Culture Center. Karaismailoğlu emphasized the significant advantages that smart transportation systems (STS) provide to citizens, stating that these systems make life easier in cities.
He highlighted the importance of prioritizing smart intersections and signaling work in cities rather than focusing on artistic structures, as these measures provide a more sustainable solution to traffic issues. With the increasing number of vehicles in the country, especially in large cities, Karaismailoğlu expressed concerns about how traffic negatively affects people’s lives, stressing the need for precautionary measures to ensure traffic safety.
Karaismailoğlu emphasized the importance of increasing the share of rail systems in traffic, especially in Istanbul, where the number of vehicles has reached 5.45 million. He mentioned the necessity of proper planning for public transportation and increasing the presence of rail systems in traffic to manage the continued growth in vehicle numbers. Without implementing different traffic models in key points, life could become unbearable due to traffic congestion.
In Istanbul, traffic density averages around 64%, reaching up to 90% during peak hours. This congestion leads to an annual waste of 288 hours per person due to traffic delays, resulting in an extra expenditure of 760 million dollars on fuel. Karaismailoğlu stressed the importance of improving public transportation in Istanbul to serve the 8.5 million active commuters effectively and to address the annual economic loss of 10 billion dollars caused by traffic congestion.
Karaismailoğlu called for the development of systems that encourage individual mobility in cities, promoting the increased use of transportation vehicles such as bicycles. He also discussed the global factors that will influence the future of transportation, including urbanization, sustainability, next-generation mobility, and STS. Karaismailoğlu also highlighted the contributions of projects such as the North Marmara Highway, Eurasia Tunnel, and Osmangazi Bridge to the country and later visited the exhibition stands at the summit.
