News

The call for speakers for the 2013 Polis Conference, to be held in Brussels on 4 and 5 December, covers a wide range of topics open under the core Polis themes of environment and health, traffic efficiency and mobility, road safety and the social and economic challenges. All abstracts should highlight the innovative dimension as well as the results achieved and lessons learned. Abstracts should be submitted online at www.polisnetwork.eu/2013conference by 7 June 2013. Authors will be notified in June of the

With more roadway construction underway than ever in the state, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is introducing its first highway safety feature that incorporates a queue warning system and temporary rumble strips to reduce work-zone collisions. Making its debut along a central Texas stretch of I-35, the system uses sensors to measure the speeds of approaching vehicles and then warns drivers through portable, electronic signs about upcoming traffic backups due to night lane closures in work zo

The latest software from PTV Group enables users to include road safety during the early transport planning stage using specific accident data. The PTV Vissum Safety module combines transport planning with road safety, and is suitable for use by transport planners in cities, municipalities and states, for universities and research institutes and for consultancy firms that want to actively offer road safety services. PTV Vissum Safety enables transport planners to analyse collected accident data and to take

Econolite’s intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are to be implemented in China’s Smart Cities urbanisation project to enhance roadway efficiencies and safety. The Smart Cities urbanisation project is part of the country’s recently announced infrastructure-based stimulus package estimated at US$6.4 trillion, ten times larger than China’s 2008 stimulus package. The company’s ITS solutions will first address the growing traffic congestion in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, where Econolite and regional pa

A new report from companiesandmarkets.com forecasts that the automotive brake systems market will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.14 per cent over the next five years, rising from a valuation of US$20.2 billion at the beginning of 2013, to hit a market value of US$28.5 billion by the end of 2018. Automotive brakes have evolved from simple wooden block brakes to today’s disc and drum brakes with electronic assistance, or electronic brake systems (EBS), which can be composed of such func

In a bid to minimise accidents on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway in India, the Noida Authority is to issue a tender for an intelligent transportation system (ITS), including a control room, emergency call boxes, message signs, CCTV, speed cameras, VIDS cameras and a meteorological data system. According to officials, completion is projected within six months of the tenders being finalised and the project launched. Once in place, the system will reduce travel times and improve traffic safety and surveill

Swedish contactless smart card supplier Arcontia International is to supply 250 ARC3300 T5 ticket validators to MicroPagos de Costa Rica SA, a local AFC system integrator and partner based in San José, Costa Rica. The ARC3300 T5 validator is an interactive contactless terminal housing a 5.7" TFT colour touch display and four physical buttons. With enhanced user interface and contactless features, the ARC3300 T5 ticket validator allows passengers to pay for their trip faster, and more easily. The validators

Until they can raise the US$1 billion it would take to expand congestion-plagued Oregon 217, state traffic planners say they'll focus on making it a smarter highway. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) engineers believe that a US$6.5 million artificial traffic intelligence project planned for the 217 corridor will permanently alter the Portland metro area's daily commuting culture. The interconnected system will rely on new underground sensors and advanced computer algorithms. The federal government

An innovative cycle safety device designed to alert truck drivers to the presence of a cyclist is about to be launched. The Cycle Alert system not only alerts drivers to a potential risk in areas frequented by cyclists, it also facilitates a direct warning from a cyclist straight to the vehicle driver. The system has three elements: a unit that is fitted to the bicycle, or worn by a cyclist on their person or helmet, sensors that are fitted to the HGV and a cab-mounted device to alert the driver. The three

Industrial designers from around the world are meeting in London next month to explore the future of transport systems, how to improve the passenger journey from home to destination and how greater integration and connectivity can enhance the transport user experience. Paul Priestman, designer and co-founding director of international design consultancy Priestmangoode will lead the debate in the Wired Transport: Connected trains, planes and automobiles session at the Product Design and Innovation Conference

Florida’s Miami-Dade Transit has installed liquid crystal display screens at several Metrorail stations to provide commuters with up to date travel information. The LCD screens are the latest technological improvement on the Metrorail system, and display arrival and departure times for the next three trains, and show which trains serve the Green Line (Palmetto to Dadeland South), and which belong to the Orange Line (Dadeland South to Miami International Airport). The monitors have been installed in ten and

A new survey from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that DC residents overwhelmingly support both red light and speed cameras. Although some residents expressed mixed opinions on the cameras, among those surveyed, 87 per cent support red light cameras and 76 per cent favour speed cameras. Among drivers, about 71 per cent support speed cameras, while 90 per cent of non-drivers support them, according to the survey. Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwen Crump cited statistic

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is to carry out public-road tests of its driving support system that uses ITS1 technology to transmit information from traffic lights to vehicles. For the tests, one road in Toyota City will be equipped with a system to transmit traffic light signal information via the 700-Mhz band to vehicles equipped with on-board testing systems. The system receives the information and alerts drivers via the audio system and the navigation system screen.

ITS solutions provider Init is to install an inter-modal fleet management system for Canada’s Durham Region Transit (DRT), Toronto. DRT has a fixed route fleet of 205 vehicles which includes twenty-six Pulse Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles. Init is to replace DRT’s existing scheduling software and will also supply onboard computers, touchscreen driver terminals, planning software, statistics and reporting software and onboard passenger information displays and announcements. Init will also install automat

Roundabouts similar to those used in the Netherlands, which separate cyclists from cars and give them priority, could be used in London as early as next year, subject to government approval, according to Transport for London (TfL). TfL has begun a major cycle safety research project to trial new and innovative junction layouts and traffic technology that, if successful, could be introduced in London and potentially more widely across the UK. The trials, which are being carried out for TfL by the Transport R