IRU calls for more support for road transport operators
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has urged governments around the world to ‘ramp up’ efforts to support road transport operators to help aid a ‘broader financial and social recovery. According to the Union, passenger transport operator revenues have been decimated by up to 100% during the confinement period, compared to the same period in […]
DfT launches COVID-19 Transport Support Unit
The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a Transport Support Unit (TSU) dedicated to fighting COVID-19. There are around 8,500 specialist volunteers from across the transport sector, and around 9,000 vehicles which can support the national effort. This includes four fixed-wing aircraft owned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (one of them a Boeing 737), […]
Lambeth Council’s emergency plan to improve road safety
The London Borough of Lambeth has produced an emergency plan that focuses on making changes to roads and pavements to improve road safety as well as support social distancing. The council says that pavements will be extended into the road in the busiest parts of the borough as well as removing through traffic on other […]
Comment: Infrastructure challenges in Wales during COVID-19
By: Ed Evans, Director, Civil Engineering Contractors Association Wales It’s been a strange few weeks.We’ve gone from being social animals to socially distanced animals in a very short space of time.No more trips to the pub, the coffee shop, the chapel. No schools open. Public transport systems largely reserved for key workers. And for many, […]
ITS European Congress called off
Not surprisingly, the ITS European Congress planned for Lisbon from 18-20 May has been postponed. Somewhat more surprisingly, it’s off until 2023. Organisers ERTICO – ITS Europe has issued a statement saying, “In the context of the current health crisis and keeping in mind the safety of our participants, ERTICO – ITS Europe, the Host […]
Hampshire SME supports Covid test centre
The Waterlooville-based technology provider Smart Video and Sensing has provided a CCTV traffic management system for a new drive-through coronavirus test centre. The 30-camera system monitors traffic to and from the site, which is being used to test NHS and care staff from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. SVS has provided a number of […]
On behalf of the highways sector-thank you Capt. Tom
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has sent his birthday wishes to Captain Tom Moore calling him an ‘extraordinary gentlemen’ following his efforts to raise money for NHS workers. Highways News wants to join the whole industry and indeed the whole country in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday and a massive THANK YOU!
Concerns for public transport use in Scotland
There could be a move away from public transport use in Scotland after the pandemic lockdown is lifted, according to Roseanna Cunningham, the Scottish Government’s Environment Secretary. She said while it was positive that global emissions have fallen over the past month, there would be ‘unintended consequences’ for public transport. According to Transport Scotland, cycling […]
Models will have to be redesigned – Aimsun
The President of the American division of Aimsun, world’s leading transport modelling companies, is warning that transport models will be have to be redesigned when the Coronavirus crisis is over. Matthew Juckes told an ITS Canada webinar that there is a question over whether we will ever go back to the “normal” we had before, […]
Travel patterns likely to change as more people work at home
One-fifths of the public will use their cars less when the coronavirus lockdown ends, according to new research by the AA. The AA/Populus poll of 20,000 people asked a range of transport and lifestyle questions related to the lockdown and suggests it could result in lasting environmental improvements. Overall, 11% of all respondents (including those […]
