MOT test changes spark ADAS fears and major crackdown
The Department for Transport is to investigate whether Advanced Driver Assistance Systems will leave drivers at risk. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety has urged the government to include mandatory checks on these sophisticated vehicle features during MOT tests. They argued: “If any of these mandatory safety-critical features are found to be malfunctioning that […]
“Alarming” DfT figures underline scale of UK’s distracted driving danger
An analysis of the latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding distracted and non-restrained driving on Britain’s roads indicates that there may be more than 50,000 instances of people driving whilst using a hand-held phone every day, along with half a million motorists driving while not wearing a seatbelt. The headline figures collated […]
ITMF bidding process paused
The Transport Technology Forum has issued a statement regarding the Intelligent Traffic Management Fund (ITMF). It reads: The Transport Technology Forum has issued advice for local authorities bidding for a share of the £20 million Intelligent Traffic Management Fund (ITMF), in the lead up to the General Election. Authorities bidding for ITMF are advised that the July deadline […]
DfT comments on proposed national speed limit increase petition
Driving law proposals to increase motorway speed limits to 100mph on motorways and 80mph on dual carriageways have been rejected over road safety fears. DfT has spoken out after 42,000 drivers, motorists and road users called for the speed limit to be hiked. Responding ahead of the General Election on July 4, the DfT said: “Speed […]
Free bus travel for elderly and disabled Concessionary pass holders before 9.30am across North East Lincolnshire
Elderly and disabled Concessionary pass holders travelling on all locally registered bus services in North East Lincolnshire will soon be able to travel for free before 9.30am thanks to a new scheme. Thanks to Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the Department for Transport, eligible North East Lincolnshire Concessionary Pass holders will benefit from free […]
Northumberland: £260m A1 dualling upgrade set to start
The Government has finally given the go-ahead for the dualling of a 13-mile stretch of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham in Northumberland, including construction of a new dual carriageway bypassing the existing A1 between Priests Bridge and Burgham Park. Main contractor Costain has been waiting for the green light on the long-delayed £260m project, […]
EXCLUSIVE – RIS3 progress stalled by election
A meeting planned to discuss the draft Roads Investment Strategy has been cancelled because it falls during the run-up to the General Election. In an email to around 70 National Stakeholders from the Department for Transport’s RIS3 Engagement Team, members are told the walkthrough event for next week has been cancelled. It says this means […]
Road traffic estimates in Great Britain, 2023: Report published on England’s road network
The Department for Transport has published a comprehensive National Statistics report that presents the 2023 annual estimates of traffic for England’s strategic and local road networks. Annual traffic statistics are compiled using data from around 8,000 roadside 12-hour manual counts, continuous data from automatic traffic counters, and data on road lengths. The next annual traffic […]
Self-driving vehicles on UK roads by 2026 as Automated Vehicles Act becomes law
Self-driving vehicles could be on British roads by 2026, after the Government’s Automated Vehicles (AV) Act became law yesterday. Announced in the King’s Speech, the AV Act enables advanced technology to safely drive vehicles on British roads. The new law puts Great Britain firmly at the forefront of self-driving technology regulation, unlocking the potential […]
Transport Secretary visits Hampshire as record funding boost for resurfacing hits the road
Transport Secretary Mark Harper visited Kempshott Lane and St Michael’s Road in Basingstoke this week to see how the government’s record funding increase for pothole repairs is creating smoother, quicker journeys for residents as well as supporting the local economy. The Transport Secretary was joined by local councillors and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller to discuss […]