MPs set to quiz minister over varying standards for taxis and private hire vehicles
The Minister for Local Government will tomorrow appear before MPs as the Transport Committee wraps up the evidence for its inquiry into the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs). The inquiry is focused on how PHV standards could be improved, amid concern about inadequate regulation that varies from one part of the country to another. […]
TOPAS: Can we no longer afford standards?
The choice is stark: Invest in standards now, or pay for their absence forever. The TOPAS (Traffic Open Products & Specifications) board says, in the wide-ranging article that follows, that it doesn’t need charity. It needs champions who understand that boring infrastructure done right is what makes exciting innovation possible. It is not much of […]
Crash victim charity RoadPeace closes down
The charity RoadPeace has suddenly closed down, making staff redundant. Although there has been no official announcement on the organisation’s website, it is understood staff were told last week they were losing their jobs with immediate effect. A former CEO of the charity has confirmed to Highways News the reports are true. RoadPeace has been […]
Road Safety Strategy: Strong targets aren’t enough without funding, warns Road Safety Foundation
The Executive Director of Road Safety Foundation is welcoming the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, but is warning that we need the money to make it happen. Dr Suzy Charman has told this week’s Highways Voices podcast: “It’s no good just having strong targets. We need the money identified to actually make the impact. If we’re […]
Newline Highways marks major expansion with first H4a temporary VRS installation
The highways maintenance firm Newline Highways has completed its first installation of a H4a temporary vehicle restraint system. The work on the A38 at Alfreton in Derbyshire involved working with manufacturer DELTABLOC to deliver the containment system to protect road users and the network itself. “This didn’t come easy,” Newline’s Business Development Manager Ben Turner […]
Re-flow: The hidden ROI of job scheduling software – faster decisions, accurate planning and fewer delays
Across UK infrastructure, scheduling is often treated as a routine task – a necessary part of keeping projects moving – without ever being given the strategic importance it deserves. Yet when it falters, the impacts are felt everywhere: • Crews wait for instructions.• Supervisors chase updates and paperwork.• Managers firefight last-minute changes. The result: a risk of […]
Live Labs 2 gets further funding
The government has announced the extension of the Live Labs 2 programme for another year. It’s providing up to £300,000 to help councils access and adopt more innovative approaches to maintenance, including uptake of longer-lasting, low-carbon materials for repairing roads faster, more efficiently and far less often. It explains these materials can unlock savings for […]
WJ Group welcomes focus on line markings in road safety strategy
Road safety, line markings and surface treatments business, WJ Group, has welcomed the renewed focus on designing road markings to enhance safety in the government’s new road safety strategy. The newly launched strategy is built around four themes; “supporting road users”, “taking advantage of technology”; “ensuring infrastructure is safe” and “robust enforcement.” Under the theme […]
Amey and National Highways unite to support care leavers into employment
Amey, in partnership with National Highways, has delivered its second STRIVE programme, a week‑long initiative giving care leavers the insight, confidence and skills to explore careers in transport infrastructure and move into work. Following the success of the first STRIVE cohort last summer, which supported care leavers in the North West, this second programme took […]
Journeo wins £1.6m Cornwall transport network upgrade contract
Journeo, the intelligent transport systems critical national infrastructure provider, has announced it has received £1.6m in purchase orders for hardware, software and support services to provide real time information systems throughout Cornwall. In total, five purchase orders have been received from Cornwall’s highway subcontractor, Enerveo Limited for Journeo to upgrade the region’s existing real time […]