UK vehicle agency introduces remote enforcement
The UK Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is to introduce remote enforcement for more compliant transport operators. The remote enforcement office (REO) will be tested by VOSA in an initial six month trial scheduled to start in October.
Who’s connecting to your car?
Development services company Symphony Teleca (STC) and Guardtime, provider of keyless signature infrastructure (KSI) software and solutions are to partner in a deal that will develop security, safety, maintenance, and reliability capabilities to enhance the connected car.
Final eCoMove event
The eCoMove final event, to be held at Eurogress, Aachen, Germany, from 20-21 November, offers a variety of events including a conference, an exhibition presenting the final results of the project and live driving demonstrations on public roads. Showcasing state-of-the-art cooperative intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for energy efficiency, the event will look at mitigating the environmental impacts of road transport through the latest ITS technologies: eCoMove technological advances aim to lower roa
Ohio Turnpike infrastructure project funds
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) has approved the US$930 million funding needed for ten projects in northern Ohio, each within twenty miles of the turnpike. The 241 mile-long, limited-access toll highway serves as a primary corridor to Chicago and Pittsburgh.
Singapore extends real time message signs
Motorists in Singapore can look forward to improved real-time traffic information and better traffic flow as the country’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) begins works to enhance existing electronic signboards along the expressways. The 380 existing island-wide expressway motoring advisory system (EMAS) electronic signs will be replaced with thirteen new signs. The new signs will be more readable, as they can display text and simple graphics in up to seven colours, including green, cyan and purple. The first
Study finds support for toll express lanes, less for mileage charges
A new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (MWCOG) finds that support for a toll managed lanes network grows somewhat the more it is discussed, whereas a vehicle miles travelled charge loses support after discussion. Among 300 people who participated in five-hour moderated small group discussions of alternative ways of dealing with traffic congestion in the Washington DC metro area, toll express lanes on all major highways receiv
Towards a more efficient use of transport research infrastructures
The European Transport Research Alliance (ETRA) has organised a one day conference on ways towards facilitating the wider and more balanced use of (large) transport research infrastructures in Europe as well as facilitating the linking of relevant research data bases and exchanges of data. The idea is to promote this cooperation and networking of research infrastructures as part of the process for creating the ERA–T, the European Research Area in the field of transport. The conference takes place on 10 Octo
NATSO dismisses tolling study claims
NATSO, the US association representing travel plazas and truck-stops, has rejected the report prepared by the Reason Foundation that pushes for widespread tolling. "The public detests interstate tolls, and with good reason," said NATSO president and CEO Lisa Mullings. "Tolls divert motorists and truck drivers to non-interstates, leading to more traffic deaths. Additionally, it costs the government more money to collect tolls than to collect fuel taxes."
Tyre pressure monitoring system for Mahindra Reva's EV e2o
Schrader International, US manufacturer of sensing and valve solutions, is to supply its tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) from Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles, a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra, one of India's largest vehicle manufacturers.
As part of the agreement, Schrader will provide TPMS technology and the company's advanced "snap-in" valve sensor to Mahindra Reva's electric vehicle e2o. The TPMS-enabled e2o may be exported to the European market in 2014.
Schrader's market-leading TPM
UK van drivers drive more carefully in their personal vehicles
A new study by TomTom indicates that more than a third (39 per cent) of UK van drivers admit to driving more carefully when using their personal vehicle.
The research, conducted among light commercial vehicle (LCV) drivers, found 67 per cent of those did so to save money on fuel and vehicle wear and tear and 29 per cent because of the absence of working time pressures.
Plug-and-lay connected car solution launched
According to Delphi Automotive, its new cloud-based automotive connectivity service for European consumers, Delphi Connect, provides a ground-breaking car-to-cloud/cloud-to-car connectivity service and works in most vehicles built after 1996.
To access the service, car owners simply plug the Delphi Connect module into the on-board diagnostics (OBD) port of their vehicle, which is usually located under the steering column. The service utilises a dedicated and secure cloud server to store data and provide
Sweden gets train de-icing system
Dutch construction company Ballast Nedam is to supply Swedish public transport organisation Trafikförvaltningen Stockholm (TF) with a train de-icing system to improve winter train services in the country.
The system is based on Ballast Nedam’s existing fully automated de-icing system which sprays the entire train with warm water system, redesigned to TF’s train specifications. The amount of water is adapted for each set of wheels depending on the degree of ice build-up. This ensures that the ice, which p
IBTTA applauds new interstate study
A new study, Interstate 2.0: Modernising the Interstate Highway System via Toll Finance, by US public policy think tank, the Reason Foundation, details how much it will cost to reconstruct and widen Interstate highways in all 50 states and shows how to pay for the modernisation efforts with toll revenues.
It makes the case for lifting the federal prohibition on tolling existing lanes of the Interstate highway system and states: “…as the reality of the cost of Interstate reconstruction and modernisation s
High Speed 2 should be part of integrated transport policy
The UK’s Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is calling for the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposals to be reassessed to become part of an integrated transport programme of metro, rail, bus and road projects to revitalise the cities of the Midlands and North.
The call comes as the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin reasserted the case for the new rail line.
Prof Phil Blythe, chair of the IET Transport Policy Panel, said: “We are supportive in principle of high speed rail, but we believe that
Three EU projects join forces
The Polite project together with two other European projects, Superhub and RITS-Net, are to join forces in an intermediate open workshop organised by Polite, to generate a common analysis on policy and governance improvements in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for public transport.
The workshop will offer a study visit on public transport management systems and traffic management in an historical city, such as Ferrara. According to Patrizia Bianchini, councillor of Territorial Planning, Trans
Delay costly upgrades with intelligent transport systems
Three Parsons Brinckerhoff transport specialists will present at the Australian Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Summit in Sydney on 18-20 September.
Parsons Brinckerhoff ITS Technical Executive, Kim Thomas, said the specialists will stimulate discussion about systems engineering and how to develop smarter transport solutions that make road operations safer and more efficient.
Malaysia to invest billions in rail development
Malaysia plans to spend a staggering US$50 billion to develop its rail network over the next seven years, including a high-speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore set for 2020, and the urban mass rapid transit system that is rolling out in 2017.
Compared to developed countries where rail transport makes up a third of public transportation, Malaysia's share is less than four per cent.
ISS creates research lab
Image Sensing Systems (ISS) is to focus on exploring the developing promising new and early stage technologies for commercialisation within the intelligent transportation, safety and security sectors.
To this end, the company has formed a new research department, ISS Labs, headed by Dr Panos Michalopoulos, ISS’ original founder.
Extended EV charging infrastructure launched
UK city Corby is aiming to be a leading edge business location, with the launch of an extended electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. To complement the EV charge points already at Corby Station and the Corby Cube, charge points have been installed at a range of venues and businesses including the Holiday Inn, Adrenaline Alley and Corby Town Football Club.
Corby now has one of the highest concentrations of charge points per head of population in the UK.
Heavy cost of car safety systems gives buyers pause
New research by Frost and Sullivan finds that constant technological innovations in automotive safety warrant frequent updates to legislation.
With the number of fatalities and injuries on the rise, legislative authorities in Europe are taking a keen interest in the safety of pedestrians, passengers and drivers. This enhanced focus on safety has far-reaching ramifications for the automotive industry.