The long and winding road. Instinctively nomadic, a wilful wayfarer, humanity has been wandering across Europe for centuries. And the available transport modes –from the Appian Way to the high-speed rail network, from the ox-cart to the Airbus 380– have come a long way too.

	Transport’s wind of change The free circulation of people and goods underpins the economic development of the European Union. However, changes in the transport sector must comply with the Kyoto agreements while also improving safety and the quality of life -a broad and complex issue, as explained by François Lamoureux, the European Commission's Director General for Energy and Transport.

	Roads for all seasons The performance of highway surfacing materials has become a hot topic as plans develop to extend and interconnect highway systems and create a road network of consistent quality throughout Europe. Although the issues involved are not well known to the general public, they require a continuous research and development effort.

	The cars of tomorrow Today’s auto engineers are already working on tomorrow’s cars, which will be more environment-friendly, safer to drive and more fuel-efficient. Car makers and their various partners, including oil companies, have launched extensive research and development programs which look very promising. .

	Aiming for excellence Although the European Union is now taking measures to curb global warming and cut air pollution, diesel-powered motor vehicles are becoming extremely popular across the continent. This has inspired Total to develop and market more environment-friendly diesel motor fuels.

	Tanker drivers put safety first Transporting hydrocarbons is a job for specialists. And since the start of 2005, loading at depots and delivery to service stations has been covered by new EU legislation.

	machina non grata… Urban tolls, vehicle-free city centers, electric trams, and driverless vehicles…. Europe is multiplying its efforts to limit urban vehicle traffic and save energy. But will these initiatives be enough to curb air pollution and give the cities of tomorrow a breath of fresh air?

	Users and citizens   Understanding transport and related issues raises the question of land-use planning, and even more broadly, the issue of the human condition in general. To what extent can users adopt more responsible, civic-minded behaviors? Jean-Loup Madre, head of the Department of Transport Economics and Sociology at the French National Institute for Transport and Safety Research (INRETS) in Arceuil, outlines the living conditions of people in France and the rest of Europe...