News

Video telematics provider Lytx is to be acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR in a deal valued at more than US$500 million that it says will help power the next chapter in its growth as a supplier video telematics and safety services for commercial and public sector transportation. Formed in 1998, Lytx has since developed a range of subscription-based services that help improve the safe fleet driving behaviour for more than 1,400 clients worldwide. Its flagship service offering, the DriveCam

The arrest of an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has prompted renewed interest in the company’s driver vetting process. Uber has confirmed that Jason Brian Dalton, accused of injuring two and killing six people over the 20-21 February 2016 weekend in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who had passed the background checks with no criminal records. The company’s website says that Uber operates an extensive driver screening process which includes collecting detailed information from potential d

The I_Hero project has organised a workshop to address the challenges and opportunities that need to be met to ensure successful introduction of eCall in the different EU Member States. It will also offer insights into how commercial companies can leverage maximum benefit from this introduction. The workshop takes place at Le Chatelain Boutique Hotel, Brussels on 26 April from 0900-1700. eCall will be mandated in Europe for all new types of cars and light trucks manufactured after 31 March 2018. Membe

Taking advantage of Tesla’s generous warranty on its Model S car, a group of young entrepreneurs from the US west coast started Tesloop, providing a travel experience they say is similar to an airline where passengers share a cabin in a plane, except that Tesloop leaves from a convenient Tesla supercharger station location. Tesloop has an expanding fleet of fully electric Tesla model vehicles that seat up to four people. It not only employs its own drivers, but also offers two types of membership to trav

Q-Free’s Homeland Security Division, Prometheus Security Group Global, has been awarded a contract to provide its proprietary VICADS Video Management system for installation at a major undisclosed US Military facility. The contract, which will be delivered within the first half of 2016, is valued at US$1.5 million with an option for a further increase valued at US$582,000. Prometheus Security Group Global, which provides high-end critical asset protection equipment and services to the Homeland Security m

Following new research from specialist finance house Aurium Capital Markets (Aurium), which reveals that between 2014 and 2015, the number of pension schemes with investments in infrastructure increased by 36 per cent, the company has raised £270 million (US$385.5 million), which includes over £100 million (USS$143 million) from institutional pension funds. It is particularly targeting the pensions sector as it says it is increasing its exposure in infrastructure. Its analysis found 136 pension schemes

The Flir Traficon Academy is organising a variety of training courses this month, covering covering topics such as the Flir ThermiCam and Flir ITS solutions. More information and registration details are available here. (link www.flir.co.uk/traffic/display/?id=66621

The US Department of Transportation has awarded US$300 million to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for two major rail projects in Los Angeles County. This federal funding will benefit both the Regional Connector and Westside Purple Line Extension (Sections 1 and 2) transit projects. Specifically, the federal government will be providing US$100 million to the Regional Connector and US$200 million for the Westside Purple Line section 1 and 2 extension this federal fisca

Preliminary estimates from the US National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths were eight per cent higher in 2015 than they were in 2014, the largest year-over-year percentage increase in 50 years. The National Safety Council estimates 38,300 people were killed on US roads and 4.4 million were seriously injured, meaning 2015 likely was the deadliest driving year since 2008. Over the last year at the state level, the National Safety Council estimates Oregon, Georgia. Florida and South Carolina al

Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) will take advantage of the 2016 Transit Bus Summit in California next week to talk with transit agencies about how technology can help reduce their operating costs while simultaneously improving service, on-time performance and ridership. The summit is aimed at transportation directors of public transit and university bus systems and provides an opportunity for agencies and suppliers to share ideas and solutions on best management of fleet operations. GTT will discuss ho

The Maryland Police Department, MPD, has been presented with a Homeland Security Award as a result of their partnership with video surveillance solutions provider Hikvision. Presented by Government Security News, the award was given to MPD in the Most Notable Law Enforcement Interdiction, Arrest, Counterterrorism or Crime Prevention Program category. MPD’s use of video surveillance to protect the city of Memphis includes nearly 600 Hikvision cameras, many of which have smart features such as line cro

UK transport consultancy, the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), has launched the UK Smart Mobility Living Lab @ Greenwich; a real-life environment where connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), services and processes can be safely developed, evaluated and integrated within the local community. Based in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London and supported by UK government, the UK Smart Mobility Living Lab @ Greenwich helps organisations bring solutions to market faster by enabling them to be trialled a

According to the US Department of Transportation's recently-released 2015 National Bridge Inventory database, there were 2,574 fewer structurally deficient bridges in 2015 compared to the number in 2014. However, there are still 58,500 on the structurally deficient list and at the current pace of bridge investment it would take at least 21 years before they were all replaced or upgraded. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), which conducts an annual review of state bridge da

The majority of older drivers want to continue driving as long as they are safely able, according to a survey commissioned by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), citing independence and convenience as the main reasons. The report, Keeping Older Drivers Safe and Mobile, surveyed more than 2,600 drivers and ex-drivers between the ages of 55 and 101 and was written by Dr Carol Hawley from the University of Warwick Medical School. Although the report found 84 per cent of driver respondents rated th

According to a report by UITP (the International Association of Public Transport), poor air quality, physical inactivity and road traffic injuries are causing an increase in health problems, although it says there is an obvious solution at hand: active transport. Insufficient physical activity has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Due to our sedentary lifestyles, obesity, heart disease, strokes and certain cancers and diabetes are o