News

UK gas distribution company SGN is expecting to save in the region of US$1.5 million by implementing a driver performance improvement programme across its 2,000-strong fleet. The company, which operates across the south of England and the whole of Scotland, , is using TomTom Telematics technology, including driver behaviour improvement system OptiDrive 360, to tackle inefficient practice.

In-vehicle lane-departure warning systems can help reduce the risk of dangerous run-off-the-road crashes, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Minnesota’s HumanFIRST Laboratory. “Run-off-the-road crashes are a huge concern, especially in rural areas,” says project co-investigator Jennifer Cooper, a HumanFIRST Lab assistant scientist. “Crash statistics tell us they contribute to more than half of all vehicle fatalities nationwide and that these crashes occur most often on two-la

Don’t miss the ITS World Congress programme highlights webinar on Friday 4 September at 1300 CEST. Senior Congress Programme Advisor Eric Sampson and Director of Congresses Didier Gorteman will walk participants through this year’s Congress programme, highlighting some of the most engaging sessions and events of the week, including This includes the opening and closing ceremonies, three plenary sessions, two high-level technology summits, fourteen executive sessions, a public afternoon open to all and ma

A driverless truck, demonstrated this week by Pennsylvania vehicle manufacturer Royal Truck and Equipment, could help improve workzone safety, says the company. The truck, fitted with special rear-end crash attenuators and lights, was demonstrated using GPS waypoints and following a lead car, mimicking its path, braking and speed. The company has teamed up with Micro Systems to integrate military technology into truck mounted attenuators (TMA), which are used on many roads in the US to protect workers

Aiming to fight worsening traffic congestion on San Diego’s roads, city officials have created a US$163 million master plan to install modern stoplight timing systems and other advanced technologies that combat gridlock, says the San Diego Union-Tribune. The master plan, the first of its kind in city history, comes as many neighbourhoods are bracing for more dense developments to absorb the region’s growing population. In addition, recent analysis by the San Diego Association of Governments shows that

The 2015 urban mobility scorecard for the US, published jointly by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Inrix, indicates that urban areas of all sizes are experiencing the challenges seen in the early 2000s and population, jobs and therefore congestion are increasing. The US economy has regained nearly all of the nine million jobs lost during the recession and the total congestion problem is larger than the pre-recession levels. Cities of all sizes are experiencing the challenges last seen before t

Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, has awarded Qatar-based Traffic Tech (Gulf) a car parking management system contract for the prestigious Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) project. The project is an important operational milestone, comprising the integration and future management of what is said to be one of the most complex car park systems in the world, with 10,000 parking spaces and over 200 gated entry/exits. Traffic Tech will design, fabricate, deliver, install and maintain the

Sensys Gatso Group has received an order for traffic safety systems, including red-light and speed camera systems as well as software design from a new customer in the Middle East. The order, worth US$783,000, is the third order received since June from a new customer in the territory and is expected to be delivered during the fourth quarter 2015. “I am delighted to see that we continue to strengthen our footprint in the Middle East and that our cooperation with this new customer is evolving” says T

High speed trains are poised to link Fort Worth to Houston and other metropolitan areas in Texas, following the approval by the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of US$4.5 million up to 2018 for planning, design, project development and preliminary engineering. The plan calls for US$1.5 million per year to be spent on these activities starting in 2016. Texas Central Partners is working to deliver high speed rail in the Dallas-Fort Worth-to-Houston corridor by 2021, allowing travellers a smooth, conge

The 22nd ITS World Congress in Bordeaux will be host to 35 live, technical and interactive ITS demonstrations, each of which will take place in the immediate vicinity of the Congress Exhibition Hall during the World Congress. The demonstrations characterise the seven topics of the congress, including: Space technologies and services for ITS; Cooperative ITS deployment challenges; Multimodal transport for people and goods; Urban trends driving ITS changes; Solutions for sustainable mobility; Automated roa

Britain’s first junction designed to avoid cyclists being hit by left-turning traffic is unveiled today, the beginning of a new wave of such junctions on London’s busiest main roads. Cyclists and turning motor traffic will move in separate phases, with left-turning vehicles held back to allow cyclists to move without risk, and cyclists held when vehicles are turning left. There will also be a new ‘two-stage right turn’ to let cyclists make right turns in safety. For straight-ahead traffic, early-release

International engineering group Egis has completed the supply and installation of the fixed operating equipment for the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX), which was recently officially inaugurated by the country’s president. Egis will also operate and maintain the four kilometre long toll road for the next seven years on behalf of local concessionaire Ayala Corporation. The MCX, previously called the Daang Hari–SLEX Link Road, will connect with the SLEX, a very busy expressway serving all provinces s

Q-Free is to supply its single gantry multi lane free flow tolling system to Sociedad Concesionaria Vespucio Norte Express, Chile. The order, valued at around US$4 million, is for the design and installation of the renewal of an existing electronic toll collection system in Santiago and includes an initial three-year service and maintenance period, which the customer has the option to renew for a further seven years. Delivery is due to be completed by the end of 2017. “We are pleased to receive this o

Community groups and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for cycling grants, to help them promote pedal power through initiatives such as cycle training, bike maintenance and guided rides. Cycling Grants London is a new programme funded by Transport for London (TfL) and managed by the environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork. It offers funding to community groups such as residents’ associations, charities and youth groups for projects that encourage people of all ages and backgroun

The US Department of Transportation ITS Joint Program Office has launched free ITS ePrimer, which aims to provide transportation professionals with fundamental concepts and practices related to ITS technologies. This online resource can help practicing professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into the planning, design, deployment, and operations of surface transportation systems. Modules include: introduction to ITS; systems engineering; transportation management systems; fr