Legal paperwork complete for persistent evader database launch
A one-man mission to properly identify motorists who ignore motoring legislation has come a step closer to success with the final legal paperwork approved to set up the National Persistent Evader Database. Alan Wood has spent ten years setting up the scheme which is the country’s only centralised database of offending vehicle behaviour data from […]
Cambridge abandons congestion charge plans
The leader of Cambridge City Council has announced Plans to charge drivers to use roads in Cambridge will not go ahead. The BBC reports that the Labour Group on the council has voted to withdraw support for the proposals because of the “impact on low income families”. Its move follows concerns raised by Liberal Democrats […]
BMW committing to build electric Mini in Oxford
BMW is to build thousands of electric Mini vehicles at its Cowley plant in Oxford after securing funding from the taxpayer. Various media outlets report the announcement will come after funding £75 million of funding from the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund was confirmed. BMW is understood to be spending around £600 million upgrading its site. […]
Cruise “days away” from driverless pod production
The General Motors subsidiary Cruise is “on the cusp” of mass-producing a driverless vehicle designed to transport up to six passengers. Cruise Origin doesn’t have manual steering controls or pedals and is designed to operate entirely through autonomous technology. The website IoT News reports it has faced a “significant hurdle’ obtaining approval from the US […]
Councils offer van replacement funding for those using busy route
Diesel van owners who drive along the Guildford stretch of the A3 more than three times a week, could be eligible for a grant to replace their vehicle with an electric model. Surrey County Council is working in partnership with Guildford Borough Council to deliver a £11 million National Highways scheme, aimed at reducing high […]
Hundreds of new zero emission buses coming to England
The Transport Secretary’s announced £129 million of spending for zero emission buses in England. The funding is designed to help local transport authorities introduce new buses to “help grow the economy by connecting communities – helping people get to work or college while also providing a boost for UK manufacturing”. Particularly remote areas where building […]
Tarmac rated ‘Outstanding’ on apprenticeship delivery
Tarmac’s learning and development team has received an Outstanding rating by Ofsted in its first full inspection of its apprenticeship provision. The apprenticeship programme delivered at Tarmac’s National Skills and Safety Park, located at Nether Langwith Quarry, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, received its first full inspection in early August and Tarmac is currently the only employer […]
Expanded ULEZ “adds 13 minutes to life expectancy”
Independent research by Channel 4 suggests that the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone to the outer boroughs will not make any significant difference to two key types of air pollution. Using the Mayor’s own data, the channel’s Factcheck Team calculates that the expanded ULEZ would add just 13 minutes to the life expectancy […]
Road traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels, but vans buck the trend
New figures from the Department for Transport show overall traffic levels in the year ending June 2023 were higher than in year ending June 2022, but below pre-pandemic levels. It shows there were 328.2 billion vehicle miles driven in the year, 2.3% above last year but still 1.4% below the year to June 2018, five […]
M32 bridge works to cost £22m
Safety Inspectors at National Highways have spotted “serious defects” on the Eastville Viaduct on the M32 in Bristol. The BBC reports they’ve ordered repairs costing £22.6m, including concrete repairs, new barriers, waterproofing and drainage. The report adds that underneath the bridge, several large areas of spalling, when concrete starts cracking and exposing reinforced steel, can […]