ROADS IN A POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

In order to see what will be the importance of roads in future, one must examine how the changes in the social and economic life are systematized. In the paper the system-forming idea of the economic system of Werner Sombart and its three components, the prevailing spirit, the ruling order and the applied technology in order to understand the significance of roads in the future is used. After a short analysis of the components of the economic system their influence on transport in the post-industrial system is traced as follows: the mentality or the style of life of road users is even more keen for mobility because of more motive and more leisure time. The transport policy is directed towards a diminution of the road expenditure/road users taxation ratio but the increasing international connections and the resulting enlarged flows of persons and goods permit the anticipation of a betterment. The advanced technology and especially of the electronic and informatic technology will affect the design of both the road and the motor vehicle, as well as their adaptation for the attainment of more efficiency and safety. (a) (TRRL)