1. Publisher’s Responsibilities

Journal of Innovative Transportation (JIT), founded in 2020 and published by Süleyman Demirel University, is a non-profit academic journal committed to the free dissemination of scientific knowledge. The journal operates under an open access policy and adheres to the ethical principles and standards defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

The Publisher ensures that:

• Each submitted manuscript is independently reviewed by at least two experts in the field using a single-blind peer review process.
  
• The Editor-in-Chief makes the final publication decision based on reviewers’ comments and authors’ responses.
  
• All accepted papers are published under open access, without publication or submission fees.
  
• Any detected ethical breach, plagiarism, or data manipulation results in withdrawal, correction, or retraction, following COPE flowcharts.
  

The journal also complies with the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive (YÖK, Turkey).

2. Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors submitting to JIT must:

• Confirm that their submission is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
  
• Ensure that the study complies with ethical research standards, including national and international legal requirements.
  
• Disclose all conflicts of interest and funding sources.
  
• Obtain necessary permissions for third-party content and maintain evidence of consent.
  
• Identify all authors who have significantly contributed to the research.
  
• Submit plagiarism-free work (all manuscripts are screened using iThenticate).
  
• Include an acknowledgement section where appropriate.
  
• Agree to data sharing and availability statements upon request to ensure reproducibility.
  
• Follow all author guidelines available on the journal’s website.
  

3. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers are essential to maintaining the scientific quality of JIT and are expected to:

• Review only manuscripts within their area of expertise.
  
• Conduct reviews objectively, confidentially, and constructively.
  
• Complete reviews within the specified timeframe.
  
• Decline a review when there is any conflict of interest or insufficient expertise.
  
• Report any suspected ethical or research misconduct to the Editor.
  
• Provide courteous, evidence-based, and improvement-oriented feedback.
  

4. Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors act in accordance with the COPE Code of Conduct for Journal Editors and ensure that:

• Editorial decisions are independent, fair, and based solely on scientific merit.
  
• Conflicts of interest are declared and transparently managed.
  
• Complaints, appeals, and allegations of misconduct are investigated following COPE procedures.
  
• Manuscripts are assessed for originality, quality, and relevance without discrimination.
  
• The confidentiality of all submissions is maintained.
  
• Corrections or retractions are issued when necessary to uphold the integrity of the scientific record.
  

5. Data Availability and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to make research data available through institutional or public repositories, or upon reasonable request. Each manuscript should include a data availability statement specifying where and how the data can be accessed.

6. Plagiarism Policy

All manuscripts submitted to JIT are screened for plagiarism using the iThenticate plagiarism detection software.

• Manuscripts with more than 20% similarity (excluding references) are automatically returned to the author for revision.
  
• Repeated or intentional plagiarism results in rejection and reporting to the author’s institution in accordance with COPE and YÖK guidelines.
  
• Authors are fully responsible for the originality and integrity of their work.
  

7. Complaint and Appeal Policy

JIT provides a fair, transparent, and structured mechanism for handling complaints and appeals regarding editorial decisions or ethical concerns.

• Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of the decision.
  
• Complaints or ethical concerns will be reviewed according to COPE flowcharts and resolved within a reasonable timeframe.
  
• The final decision on appeals rests with the Editorial Board, and outcomes will be communicated in writing to the appellant.
  

8. Correction and Retraction Policy

In cases of proven plagiarism, data fabrication, or other forms of misconduct, JIT follows COPE Retraction Guidelines. Corrections, retractions, or withdrawal notices are permanently linked to the original article in both the online archive and the PDF version to ensure the integrity of the scientific record.

9. Publication Ethics Oversight

All ethical cases are managed according to COPE flowcharts and the Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive (YÖK). All stakeholders — authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher — are expected to maintain the highest standards of publication ethics.

Useful References

• COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers
• COPE Core Practices