News

Clever Devices, a technology solutions for all modes of public transportation, including fixed-route, bus rapid transit, paratransit and rail, has closed a transaction to acquire substantially all of the assets of Digital Recorders. Formerly, Digital Recorders, a provider of ITS to public transit agencies throughout North America, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digital Recorders, (DRI), which filed for bankruptcy in March, 2012.

In October 2012, an electric car rental service will be unveiled by Seoul City in South Korea to promote eco-friendly transportation. A total of 200 electric cars will be provided by the city for the car sharing service programme that will be unveiled in collaboration with two firms, with a target to ease traffic congestion, cut air pollution and save energy. The two companies that will join the programme are Korea Car Sharing and LG CNS, under a deal sealed with the city.

TomTom has announced a partnership with MapQuest, wholly owned by AOL, to power the company’s mobile app with TomTom maps. Available for Android and iOS, MapQuest’s free apps provide access to a wireless version of the well-known MapQuest website.

Tom Blair, an experienced software industry leader, has joined Iteris and assumed the new position of senior vice president of Iteris’s recently established iPerform group. The group was established in 2011 to focus on the development and deployment of software-based performance measurement and information management solutions. It was expanded with the acquisition of Berkeley Transportation Systems in October 2011, and has since made several key management appointments.

Vital Technology has supplied a data communications network system to Egis Road & Tunnel Operation Ireland (ERTO) for the Dublin Port Tunnel which opened to traffic in 2007 and is the longest urban tunnel in Europe as well as the largest civil engineering project ever undertaken in Ireland. While core components are proving durable, communication systems became subject to early obsolescence and were causing networking problems and unscheduled closures which prompted the upgrade.

GreenRoad, a specialist in driver performance and safety management, has announced that Big Bus Tours, the largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours in the world, is expanding its use of GreenRoad from London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to its fleet of 17 buses touring San Francisco. It is also considering deploying GreenRoad in a further 88 buses in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Miami.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed into law a bipartisan bill that requires all convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlocks on their vehicles to prevent future offences. Missouri is the 17th US state to mandate this requirement. Beginning in October 2013, the new law requires first-time drunk driving offenders use an interlock for 75 days. If the interlock shows a vibolation during this period of restricted driving privilege, the person's license will not be reinstated until they complete an addi

Garmin International has announced Glo, a portable GPS and Glonass that provides significant new benefits. When using both GPS and Glonass satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to “lock on” to a position is (on average) approximately 20 per cent faster than using GPS alone. Moreover, when using both GPS and Glonass, the receiver has access to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone. Garmin says this is particularly helpful for users who need reliable satellite navigation in challenging environments

ITS America has welcomed 17 companies and organisations from around the country as new members during the second quarter of 2012. Recent new members include American Council on Renewal Energy; Addco; Bishop Consulting; Cadogan Consulting; Cellcontrol; DriveCam; Enterprise Pooled Fund; EPV Group; Infrastructure Corporation of America; Mixon Hill; Naztec; Novavia Solutions; Pemcco; Raymond James; AMSchoka Consulting; TrafficVision; and Treehaven Technologies.

The average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving in the UK is just four years – 62 per cent shorter than for manslaughter, according to road safety charity the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). While the average sentence length of manslaughter is 6.6 years, those sentenced to prison for causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving are given an average sentence of 1.3 years. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs has an average sentence of 4.3 years

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad, working with transit mobile ticketing specialists Masabi US, will begin testing a smartphone app that will let people buy their train tickets anywhere, anytime and never have to hold a piece of paper. During the pilot, select users will be able to download the free app to their iPhone, Android or Blackberry phones. Through the app, these users can buy any type of ticket, one-way, round trip, 10-trip, monthly etc, with any origin and destination

Inrix, the international provider of traffic information and driver services, has announced the hiring of four industry leaders from the automotive and mobile industries to drive the company’s European business development and global marketing efforts. In addition, the company is naming former Blue Nile CEO Diane Irvine, to its board of directors.

Germany’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) has introduced proximity search for bus and rail travellers as an additional search option in its HAFAS-based journey planner. From any starting point in Germany, the DB's journey planner generates all destinations that can be reached within a certain period of time. HaCon's 1:n search facilitates not only excursions to the countryside, but also helps to find destinations like theatres, museums and theme parks. These are shown on a map, along with their respective distances in t

Zipcar, which claims to be the world's leading car sharing network, has announced the acquisition of Denzel Mobility CarSharing in Austria, which operates under the name CarSharing.at. This transaction follows Zipcar's acquisition of a controlling interest in Barcelona-based Catalunya Carsharing, known as Avancar, in February 2012. The acquisition also comes on the heels of Zipcar's integration of Streetcar operations in the UK last year and the recent appointment of Frerk-Malte Feller as president of Zipca