New eCall project looks to benefit emergency services’ and road operators’ response to help save lives and identify vulnerable drivers
A group of connected vehicle experts are undertaking a new project to give emergency services and road operators essential data about road crashes in real time. Responding to collisions, stranded vehicles and potentially vulnerable drivers is a priority for the UK’s emergency services. Faster response and detailed information regarding the vehicle are the focus of […]
DfT spending £2 million funding innovative transport tech including apps to assist disabled passengers
Better use of eCall technology, personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers and robots for freight at ports are among 67 transport technology projects being developed and tested through new funding. Technology Minister Jesse Norman has announced 67 innovative projects developing transport technology which are receiving a share of £1.96 million in funding as part of […]
Road deaths increase by 9% in the last 12 months
The latest Department for Transport figures for road casualties have showed that 1,695 people were killed in crashes in 2022, up from 1,558 a year earlier. It showed that road deaths in Britain rose 9% last year, leading to calls for the Government to give the issue “the attention and resources it deserves”. Three out of four fatalities were […]
Government confirms £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes
The Government has announced the latest round of funding for active travel schemes, worth £200 million. The latest round of funding, will provide a boost to high streets and local businesses, and transform the school run for tens of thousands of children, generating up to 16 million extra walking and cycling trips a year, it […]
ADEPT Live Labs 2 reaches deployment stage – with seven projects already started
After completing their final assessments, all seven projects have successfully met the criteria needed to take the £30 million ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads programme forward to deployment and procurement. The final assessments came at the end of a three month fully-funded mobilisation phase where project teams developed their proposals into a specified and costed […]
Longer lorries being allowed on British roads
The Government has announced longer lorries will be introduced to roads, which it says delivers on the “priority to grow the economy, boost productivity, slash road emissions, and support supply chains”. Legislation will be laid today to roll out the vehicles on British roads from 31 May. The longer lorries will be able to transport consumer […]
Opinion: Mind the Data Gap: Bridging DfT’s Transport Data Strategy with tomorrow’s tech
By: University of Birmingham staff We must harness the potential of AI to revolutionise the transport industry – improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing user experiences. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, transportation plays a crucial role in connecting people, goods, and services. Recognising the need for improved data management, the Department for Transport (DfT) recently […]
Jo Shanmugalingam appointed as new Second Permanent Secretary at DfT
The Department for Transport (DfT) Permanent Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has today (3 May 2023) announced that Jo Shanmugalingam, currently a Director General at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has been appointed as the new Second Permanent Secretary at DfT. The Second Permanent Secretary, appointed following an open competition, […]
Cycling levels down a quarter on lockdown peak
New figures released by the Department for Transport suggest that cycling levels in England are down on their peak levels seen in March 2021, but that they are still far above 2013 levels. In March 2021, cycling levels peaked during the coronavirus pandemic with an increase of 63% since December 2013. COVID-19 restrictions were still […]
TTF hears how transport technology industry looking to maximise the benefits of AI
The government is working hard to improve its understanding of Artificial Intelligence in transport, its potential and its dangers, as it looks to work out how to best use the technology. Giving the keynote address at the Transport Technology Forum Conference in Leeds, the Department for Transport’s Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Dr Annette Pass talked […]