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According to a new report from Frost & Sullivan, the North and Latin American automotive navigation markets are on the cusp of a shift to connected navigation systems that offer real-time traffic information and local searching options. Navigation systems, whether by original equipment (OE) fitment, aftermarket, or portable navigation device (PND), are feeling the heat of competition from smartphone-based navigation applications. Low-cost smartphone replication technologies are helping navigation markets br

Recent increases in road fatalities should be a wake-up call for the UK Government to step up and provide stronger leadership on road safety, say members of parliament in a report examining the Government's Strategic Framework for Road Safety.

Telogis has announced the acquisition of Navtrak, a specialist in mobile resource and fleet management solutions. The company claims this latest acquisition, along with strong organic growth rate, further positions Telogis as the fastest-growing enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of location-based intelligence solutions.

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) Authority, in Savannah, Georgia, has selected the US subsidiary of Spanish company Indra to provide computer aided dispatch (CAD) and automatic vehicle location (AVL) to improve transit management both operationally and financially. Indra's technology will allow CAT to instantly determine a vehicle's location, make real-time decisions and to optimise its fleet. Riders of the CAT will be able to obtain real-time data including: next stops, transfers to other lines, incidents and es

Redflex Traffic Systems in the US has announced it is expanding its student safety division with the acquisition of SmartBus Live. Since 2008, the SmartBus Live safety camera programme has helped school districts and municipalities monitor and deter drivers who illegally pass school buses while the stop arm is deployed. It will now operate under Redflex’s safety camera programme, Redflex Student Guardian.

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