Understanding the potential of the National Persistent Evader Database on this week’s Highways Voices
On Monday we broke the news that the final legal paperwork for the National Persistent Evader Database has been completed and a trial of the solution can now begin in and around London. Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode! But what is NPED? This week on Highways […]
M5 named England’s most popular motorway
The UK’s drivers have rated the M5 as the most popular motorway in England in a new survey from the independent watchdog, Transport Focus. In the Strategic Roads User Survey the M5 motorway between the Midlands and the South West had the highest overall satisfaction at 82%. The M5 has also improved both its overall satisfaction rating […]
MPs call for ring-fencing for local road maintenance again
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Better Roads has issued a report calling for central government to re-instate effective ring-fencing and multi-year settlements for local road maintenance. The report draws on a review of the Pothole Action Fund (2015/16-2020/21), which says it was a successful policy which contributed to marked improvements in the overall structural conditions […]
Conigital Announces Landmark £500 million Series A+ Funding Offer
British driverless vehicle company Conigital, which has operations in Australia, Brazil, and India, has secured an offer of £500 million in Series A+ funding. Announced at this year Low Carbon Vehicle (LVC) Connected Automated Mobility (CAM) event, this investment, described as “transformative” and made up of a combination of equity and debt, is the outcome […]
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 […]