Exclusive Interview |
006 Traffic Technology International March/April 2020
www.TrafficTechnologyToday.com
Ahead of Intertraffic
Amsterdam Caspar de Jonge,
a key ITS figure at the Dutch
transport ministry and an initiator
of the Talking Traffic Partnership,
speaks to Tom Stone about the
ongoing need for ever closer
cooperation right across
the mobility sector
The low-lying Netherlands is home to
a people with a tradition of cooperation.
From the Middle Ages when land began
to be reclaimed from the sea, the
knowledge that, by planning and
working together, great challenges can be
overcome has been ingrained in the national
psyche. Furthermore, easy access to the heart of
Europe has meant that communication with
other nations is not only important for trade,
but essential to everyday living. And so, it
should be no surprise that in modern times, the
Netherlands is leading the world in connected
transportation systems.
Intertraffic Amsterdam is a testament to this
spirit of cooperation. The event features the
largest exhibition dedicated to the road transport
industry anywhere in the world as well as
a growing and diverse schedule of conference
sessions, demonstrations, and, since the last
edition in 2018, startup companies.
But what happens in the Dutch transport
industry during the months in between each
Intertraffic Amsterdam event? There is one
organisation above all others that carries the torch
for transportation planning and innovation – the
country’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Water
Management. And there is one man in the
Ministry who knows more than most about the
connected transportation innovations being
undertaken – programme manager for team data
and services, Caspar de Jonge.
De Jonge has been a key participant in
Intertraffic Amsterdam for many years, giving
presentations and taking to the stage in the
opening ceremony, although this year he’s
hoping the technology will do a lot of the talking.
“I hope I’m not on stage continuously!” he
laughs as he recalls his many starring roles in
the past. “I think I’ve been up there way too
many times, so let’s see if I can keep it quiet a bit!
I think we have an excellent programme with
a range of colleagues and experts who can do
‘deep dives’ as well as showing the impact of
certain programmes on urban society. I also
know there are a lot of private companies who
Stronger
together
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