Number plates “too easy to clone”
It’s reported an investigation for the Home Office has concluded that car number plates are too easy to clone, meaning criminals can pretend to drive other people’s vehicles, leaving victims having to prove their innocence. The Daily Telegraph has seen an as-yet unpublished report which warns that the current system of regulation is too weak […]
National Highways launches HGV blind spots safety campaign
National Highways has launched a new safety campaign, amid concerns about drivers’ awareness of heavy goods vehicle ‘blind spots’ when overtaking. It says car and van drivers can underestimate limitations HGV drivers face in seeing passing vehicles. In a recent survey commissioned by National Highways, while nearly three quarters of people said they take extra […]
Road verge wildlife haven campaign launched
The conservation charity Plantlife has announced that over 70% of local authorities and their contractors are now managing their road verges for nature, using road verge guidance it has published. The Plantlife Road Verge Hub sets out how road verges can be wildlife havens, supporting green recovery. The focus of the guidance is on cutting grassland […]
VolkerSmart Technologies awarded £1 million EV installation works in Barnet
Highways Maintenance and Civil Engineering company VolkerSmart Technologies has announced it is currently installing electric vehicle charging points along residential roads in Barnet on behalf of Trojan Energy. The £1 million contract, which commenced in October last year, is expected to be completed in the next two months. The first phase of works involved the […]
Cost of living crisis could be causing fewer people to speed
High fuel prices and the cost of living crisis could be leading to a fall in the number of drivers speeding on Britain’s roads. Analysis by Select Car Leasing of figures from the DVLA have found the number of motorists prosecuted for so-called ‘SP30’ – ‘exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road’ – offences […]
Scottish Council expands EV infrastructure
New proposals for increasing the infrastructure to cater for more electric vehicles across Ayrshire have been revealed. North, East and South Ayrshire Councils are drawing up plans to improve access to charging points across their region. The proposals would involve working with a commercial supplier to increase the number of EV charge points from an […]
TfL threatens to withhold council funding over LTN
Transport for London is withholding more than £1m from Tower Hamlets because its mayor is considering axing road schemes designed for cyclist and pedestrian safety. London’s Evening Standard newspaper reports TfL is taking the unprecedented action against Lutfur Rahman to signal its opposition to the removal of low traffic neighbourhood schemes in and around Brick Lane […]
Drivers’ most annoying habits revealed in new survey
A new survey of drivers’ attitudes in the UK suggests they hate it when other people tailgate them or fail to indicate. A survey by Virtu Motors also found other leading peeves were when people use their phone whilst driving, driving with their lights on full beam and hogging the middle lane on the motorway […]
Scottish LEZ projects “already cost £36m”
Preparation work for Low Emission Zones in four cities in Scotland has cost £36 million before any of them are up and running. The Scottish Daily Express reports the schemes being set up in Glasgow (pictured), Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have run up costs for grants given to councils to help them run their schemes […]
Iconic Scottish viaduct returned to former glory
An iconic 16-arch viaduct that straddles the River Avon on the West Lothian and Falkirk border has been returned to its former glory thanks to major renovations funded by National Highways’ Historical Railways Estate. The detailed £2 million programme which included masonry repairs, waterproofing and the installation of 19 bat bricks, six bat tubes and […]