News

Kapsch TrafficCom recorded a turnover increase from €388.66 million (US$476.75 million) in the 2010/2011 business year to €549.9 million in the 2011/2012 business year. Net profits decreased three per cent to €27.5 million and Ebit decreased 13.6 per cent to €42.2 million.

Volvo Trucks has developed a new GSM-based system that allows workshops to check a trucks’ condition remotely – a development that promises increased uptime and lower maintenance costs. The system is scheduled for release in Europe in 2013. The new remote services are possible thanks to the latest version of in-truck Telematics Gateway (TGW). This allows the Volvo workshop to monitor the vehicle's wear and condition in addition to reading fault codes remotely, using the GSM network.

Navmii Holdings, a UK headquartered provider of GPS navigation mobile apps, has received £2 million (US$3.13 million) from investors as part of its current funding round. Since launching in late 2009, the company has registered more than 8.2 million users and says it is growing at a rate of more than 550,000 users a month. The Navmii apps (Navmii and Navfee) have achieved the no.1 position on the Apple Apps store in the navigation category in many key markets including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, I

Continental is replacing a large part of the hardware in conventional radios with intelligent software. In a test setup Continental is already able to demonstrate the diversity, which is possible through its Global Software Radio (GSR). For example, it can play several radio stations simultaneously. Using loudspeakers and additional headset outlets, car drivers and rear seat passengers can listen to their favourite stations independently of each other. The GSR also allows the driver to listen to a station w

German company G&D has unveiled the first payment sticker to meet the specifications of the German banking industry. When the sticker is attached to a cell phone or smartphone, it enables contactless payment, even if the device itself is not NFC-enabled. The Seccos Mobile payment sticker is certified for the MasterCard contactless payment method PayPass. This allows bank customers worldwide to pay bills at over 350,000 PayPass locations.

American Traffic Solutions (ATS) has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis the results of which it claims show the direct economic savings to communities that result from using red-light safety cameras at dangerous intersections. The analysis was carried out by John Dunham and Associates, an economic research firm specialising in economic and fiscal impact studies.

Extreme weather conditions cost the EU’s transport system at least €15 billion (US$18.44 billion) per year according to a a study carried out by the Finnish VTT Technical Research Centre. The study reveals that the greatest costs incurred are from road accidents, with the associated material and psychological effects. Costs arising from accidents are expected to decrease in volume, although time-related costs attributable to delays are projected to increase. In part, this last effect is due to climate chang

The innovative QBeak electric car is to benefit from a sophisticated methanol fuel cell range extender that will give it a range of at least 800km. Development work is being carried out on the project by a consortium of Danish companies. The plan is to develop a novel, range-extended electric vehicle that uses biomethanol as a fuel source. TheModularEnergyCarrier concept (MECc) project has just been granted funding from the Danish government. The reworked electric car is expected to deliver high market pote

In the first five months of 2012, the number of traffic related deaths in Denmark was down by 25 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2011. In May, the number of deaths in traffic was by nearly half - 13 compared with 25 the previous year. The Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) and the Council for Road Safety (Rådet for Sikker Trafik) call the figures remarkable. However, the authorities have difficulty explaining the exact reason for the sharp decline but cite rising fuel prices, the eco

Toronto, Canada, July 16, 2012 – Delcan, a multi-disciplinary engineering, planning, management and technology firm, is proud to announce that Delcan’s Joe Lam has been presented with the Distinguished Member of the Year award from the ITS Canada. With more than 40 years of experience in traffic control and management systems, he has been with Delcan for 32 years and is an internationally recognised expert with strong influence on ITS issues both in Canada and around the world. He served as chairman of ITS

Eleven days ago, President Obama signed the conference report to accompany H.R. 4348 (MAP-21), which reauthorises the America’s surface transportation programmes through the end of Fiscal Year 2014. ITS America will host a webinar from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST this Friday, 20 July, 2012 to provide an update on the newly passed surface transportation reauthorisation bill. Normally reserved for ITS America members, this special edition webinar is free for anyone interested in learning more about what the new bil

The government of Sindh in Pakistan is planning to implement a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Karachi and the first phase will cost US$5 million. The system will enable 200 buses to carry around 15,000 passengers an hour and there will be special lanes for buses to operate.

Russia's State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (STSI) has presented a draft concept of federal target programme on traffic safety for the period 2013-2020 which mainly focuses on decreasing road accident mortality. It features a commitment to address the death rate among children and provides for bulk acquisition of school buses.

GO Transit, a division of Metrolinx, located in Toronto, Canada, that carries 61 million passengers a year has chosen INIT to deploy a new fleet management system for 424 GO buses, 47 GO rail cars and 50 non-revenue vehicles. The contract calls for an advanced ITS solution which includes an intermodal CAD/AVL system, on-board mobile data terminals, automatic passenger counting technology, next stop announcements, in-vehicle variable message signs, real-time vehicle diagnostics and interfaces to existing des

A technology collaboration between InnovITS Advance and TRL has led to the creation of an advanced form of pedestrian detection target which it is claimed will help those specifying and developing automotive safety systems based on pedestrian recognition to test and certify their products in a more flexible, accurate and repeatable manner. The new pedestrian target is based around a robust, free standing dummy that provides a realistic human aspect and moves under remote control with a programmable range o