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July 26, 2017
Lévis, Quebec, implement s emergency vehicle pre-emption
Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) has provided the city of Lévis, Quebec, with its latest Opticom traffic pre-emption solution, which has been deployed at 28 intersections and on 19 emergency vehicles. Opticom emergency vehicle pre-emption (EVP) technology works alongside intersection controllers to help ensure emergency vehicles can move through intersections quickly and safely. When an emergency vehicle needs to navigate an intersection, the Opticom EVP system onboard the emergency vehicle sends a request
July 25, 2017
EU project tests new technologies in Madrid to improve traffic and travel information
Spanish technology group Indra is implementing the European R&D&i project Harmony, with the collaboration of research groups G@TV and TranSYT from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and with the support of Grupo Interbús and Spain's Traffic Department (DGT). The pilot study is being carried out in Madrid to develop new technologies to integrate real-time data from different transport operators and improve multimodal information services. The three-year project, developed with the Polytechnic University of
July 24, 2017
Severn tolls will be abolished by the end of next year

Drivers will see an end to tolls on the UK’s Severn Crossings in 2018; the bridges are used by more than 25 million vehicles each year, saving significant travel time and distance for commuters and drivers using the M4 motorway.

However, the tolls on both Severn Crossings have been seen as an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales’ future prosperity.

It is estimated that this announcement would boost the economy of South Wales by around US$130 million (£100 million) a year and the average motorist could save over US$1,800 (£1,400) per year.

July 24, 2017
Drones to be registered and users to sit safety tests under new government rules
Drones will have to be registered and users will have to sit safety awareness tests under new rules to better regulate their growing use, the UK government has announced. Owners of drones weighing 250 grams and over will in future have to register details of their drones, either online or through apps, to improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly. The move follows safety research that concluded drones could damage the windscreens of helicopters. In addition, a new drone safety awareness
July 24, 2017
EastLink receives special commendation from ADVI
One of Australia’s largest tollways, EastLink in Victoria, has received a Special Commendation from the Australia & New Zealand Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI), for the trials of automated vehicle technologies underway on EastLink. The trials are being undertaken by EastLink in partnership with VicRoads, ARRB, La Trobe University and RACV, with the assistance of major vehicle manufacturers, including BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi and Volvo. The most recent technology demonstration involved the new T
July 21, 2017
Highways England is performing well but has areas for improvement, finds regulator
The Annual Assessment of Highways England’s Performance by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has found that the company is performing well against most of its performance targets. ORR says however that continued improvement is needed to plan when work takes place throughout the year. ORR, which is the official Monitor of Highways England, found that the company is meeting its targets to keep traffic flowing while delivering its programme of major improvements. It is continuing to focus on improving safety a
July 21, 2017
Cycle safety improvements coming for Dunedin, New Zealand
Work is set to start next month on a cycleway through central Dunedin, New Zealand, that aims to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and all road users. Fulton Hogan has been awarded a (US$6 million (NZ$8 million) contract to build new cycle lanes on the north and southbound streets of the State Highway 1 one-way system between the Dunedin Botanical Gardens and Queens Gardens. The work involves replacement of the existing painted cycle lanes, which sit directly next to busy traffic lanes and placing ne
July 21, 2017
New York City sees reduction in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities
New York City has ended the first six months of 2017 with the fewest traffic fatalities ever measured, according to figures released by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Under the Vision Zero program, as of 30 June, the city had recorded 93 fatalities, the first time ever that fewer than 100 lives had been lost in such a period. The full fiscal year ending 30 June recorded 210 fatalities, 31 fewer than the prior fiscal year. The reductions come as the City is increasing traffic enforcement against dangerous violations
July 20, 2017
Kapsch TrafficCom to provide traffic management and staffing for Louisiana DOTD
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has selected Kapsch TrafficCom (Kapsch) to provide management and staffing services for the DOTD Traffic Management Centers (TMCs), each with varying levels of support and staffing appropriate for daily operations. DOTD currently operates five TMCs and provides Motorist Assistance Patrol (MAP) services in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles areas, as well as MAP services for various construction projects state-wide. The cont
July 19, 2017
Driving hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to market
An EU-funded project, with the support of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint undertaking (FCH JU), has installed hydrogen filling stations, tested prototype fuel cell vehicles and brought together car makers and infrastructure providers to push forward the commercial viability of this zero-emissions technology. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which manufacturers aim to make commercially available from 2018, offer zero-emissions transport and function much like an electric vehicle. However, fuel cell vehicles mu