The European Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems (EJITS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and adheres to the following guidelines to ensure integrity, transparency, and quality in the dissemination of scientific research. All stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, and editors, are expected to follow these principles.

1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

1.1. Originality and Plagiarism

All submitted manuscripts must be the original work of the authors and must not be under consideration by any other journal at the time of submission. EJITS uses plagiarism detection software to screen manuscripts. Authors must ensure that their work is free from plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, and appropriately cite all sources.

1.2. Authorship

Authorship should reflect individuals who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the study. All contributors who meet the criteria for authorship (conceptualization, methodology, writing, and editing) should be listed as authors, and those who do not should be acknowledged appropriately. Changes to authorship after submission require the consent of all listed authors.

1.3. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest at the time of submission. This includes funding sources, institutional affiliations, or any other factor that may influence the interpretation of results.

1.4. Data Availability and Reproducibility

EJITS promotes the transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Authors are required to make the data underlying their research available for verification and replication where possible. Authors should also provide detailed methodology to ensure the reproducibility of results.

1.5. Multiple Submissions and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. Articles that substantially overlap with previously published work should not be submitted to EJITS unless the manuscript represents a significant extension of the prior research. In such cases, the previous work must be referenced, and the novelty of the new contribution clearly stated.

2. Peer Review Process

2.1. Double-Blind Peer Review

EJITS follows a double-blind peer-review process, meaning that both the reviewers and the authors remain anonymous throughout the review. Manuscripts are evaluated on their scientific merit, clarity, and contribution to the field of intelligent transportation systems, regardless of the author's identity, affiliation, or nationality.

2.2. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback on submitted manuscripts. Any conflicts of interest or potential bias should be disclosed to the editorial team prior to accepting the review invitation. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality regarding the content of manuscripts and should not use unpublished information in their own research without permission.

2.3. Editorial Decision

The final decision to accept, revise, or reject a manuscript is made by the editorial board based on reviewers' comments and the journal's standards. Authors are provided with detailed feedback if revisions are needed, and they are expected to address all concerns raised by reviewers in their revised submissions.

3. Ethical Guidelines for Editors

3.1. Editorial Independence

The editors of EJITS have full responsibility for editorial decisions on all submitted manuscripts. Decisions are made based on the scientific merit of the manuscript and its contribution to the field of intelligent transportation systems. Editors must avoid conflicts of interest in the manuscript selection process and ensure fair and unbiased decision-making.

3.2. Confidentiality

Editors must maintain confidentiality about all aspects of the submitted manuscripts. Information concerning submissions should only be disclosed to those involved in the publication process, such as reviewers, editorial board members, and the publisher.

3.3. Conflict of Interest

Editors should recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest, such as financial, academic, or personal relationships with any of the authors or organizations involved in the study.

4. Research Integrity and Misconduct

4.1. Fraudulent Data

Any detected cases of fraudulent data or manipulation will result in the immediate rejection of the manuscript. If misconduct is detected after publication, the article will be retracted, and the authors’ institutions will be informed of the issue.

4.2. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious violation of academic integrity. EJITS screens all manuscripts for plagiarism at the submission stage. If significant plagiarism is detected after publication, the article will be retracted, and further action may be taken against the authors, including informing their institutions.

4.3. Corrections and Retractions

In cases where errors or research misconduct are identified post-publication, EJITS will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Authors are encouraged to notify the journal of any significant errors in their published work as soon as they become aware of them.

5. Open Access Policy

EJITS is an Open Access journal, meaning all published articles are freely available to the public under a Creative Commons license. This allows for unrestricted access, distribution, and reuse of the content, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors. The journal operates under the Continuous Article Publishing (CAP) model, ensuring rapid publication of accepted manuscripts.

6. Article Processing Charges (APC)

EJITS applies Article Processing Charges (APC) to cover the costs of Open Access publication. However, APC waivers or discounts may be provided to authors from low- and middle-income countries or those with demonstrated financial need. No fees are charged at the time of submission, and authors are notified of the APC only upon acceptance of their manuscript.

7. Copyright and Licensing

All articles published in EJITS are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This permits others to copy, distribute, and create derivative works based on the original research, provided that the original authors and source are properly cited.

8. Complaints and Appeals

Authors who believe that their manuscripts were unfairly rejected can appeal the editorial decision. Appeals should be directed to the editor-in-chief, and the case will be reviewed impartially. Complaints about any aspect of the publication process are handled in accordance with the COPE guidelines.