Summing-up

The conference produced a most valuable perspective on the problems which still face us in the field of traffic data collection. The range of those problems has clearly given rise to a variety of views among those active in the field, on the possibilities for progress. Some were pessimistic (or at least cautious) while others claimed, on the basis of experience, that many of those problems could be overcome now. On balance, this exchange of views favoured the optimists and gave a number of pointers to the way forward.

To take the technical and operational problems first, there was a general view that we must improve the accuracy of traffic flow data, solve the problems of data management, and extend the range of information collected to include the parameters of speed, headway between vehicles and axle loads. All of this points firmly in the direction of greater use of automatic equipment. There is by now widespread experience in both central and local government in the use of certain types of automatic equipment. However this experience has not all been favourable and has brought new problems in its wake.