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Electric vehicles and hybrids should be fitted with noise emission equipment to reduce danger levels for the blind and partially sighted, according to the European Blind Union (EBU). The EBU is calling on the EU to make noise generators compulsory for all electric and hybrid vehicles due to the obvious risks these pose to blind and partially sighted people. Hybrid vehicles generally run in electric mode when operating at lower speeds in the urban cycle and generate very little engine noise, while electric v

A new agreement in the US will help tackle the issue of drink driving using sophisticated in-car technologies. The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is extending its cooperative agreement with the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), which comprises 15 automakers. This agreement will see research continuing into advanced alcohol detection technology that could prevent vehicles from being driven by a drunk driver. “Drunk driving remains a deadly crime

A series of major trade routes are being upgraded in Nepal, which are intended to help boost bilateral trade with neighbouring India and China. This will see four key trade routes being upgraded to six lanes. These are the; Butwal-Belhiya, Rani-Ithari, Surybinayak-Dhulikhel and Birgunj-Pathalaiya highway sections. Work is already underway on the Butwal-Belihiya and Rani-Ithari highway sections while work is also being planned for the Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel and Birgunj-Pathalaiya highways. Of the 24km stretc

Two important bridge projects are planned for Indonesia. The South Korean firm Samsung is keen to build a 6.7km bridge to link Bintan Island with the free trade zone (FTZ) located in Batam Island. The copmany has been in discussions with the Indonesian Government with regard to the project, which will also include developing a container port in Batam's Tanjung Sauh and is likely to cost in the order of US$576.5 million in all. Meanwhile plans are in hand for a new 600m bridge to be developed in Jayapura. Th

Data from Japan’s National Police Agency reveals that 4,373 people were killed in crashes in 2013. This was a fall of 0.9% compared with the figures for 2012. The fall in road traffic deaths in 2013 is said to have come as a result of better traffic safety initiatives. The data revealed that 799,660 people were injured in crashes in 2013, while Japan saw a total of 628,248 crashes overall. Worryingly some 2,303 senior citizens were killed in traffic crashes in 2013, a rise of 1.7%, while at 219, the highest

Conexpo and IFPE 2014 are international trade exhibitions that will provide information and support for industry professionals worldwide. According to the organisers, more than 95 allied associations and groups are official show supporting organisations, while hundreds of industry meetings and conventions will be held at the shows and key countries for industry business are hosting international exhibit pavilions. Safety and education/training will be spotlighted with focused industry events in the outdoor

The organisers of the Conexpo event are offering a comprehensive education programme at the exhibition, as well as at its partner IFPE 2014 event. This is intended to help attendees sharpen their professional skills and improve their business efficiency and productivity. Industry experts will be on hand to share the latest operational techniques and management strategies, with sessions offered at varying times throughout the shows for attendees to maximise their time onsite.

More than 35 million electric vehicles (EV) will be on the world’s roads by 2022, according to a new report from Navigant Research. “With gasoline prices remaining high, acquiring an EV is becoming an economic decision for many consumers,” says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. “The initial purchase price premiums for EVs, compared to conventional gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engines, are substantial. Yet, operational cost savings due to reduced refuelling and maint

TrafficLand, the largest authorised aggregator of live traffic video in the United States, and global aerospace and defense firm Exelis, have teamed up to deliver “game-changing” real-time information to motorists about hyperlocal weather conditions. The Helios environmental intelligence platform uses proprietary algorithms that give users the ability to monitor current conditions and detect changes in visibility, precipitation and road surface conditions at a hyperlocal, or street scale. Helios can then i

Hungary is experiencing a road development boom. In line with the country's New Szechenyi Plan (USZT), some €3.67 billion (HUF 1.1 trillion) is to be made available for road development works. National infrastructure development company NIF says it launched road projects worth a total of €1.5 billion (HUF 450 billion) in 2013. Contracts have been signed for the full amount. Hungary's M4 motorway is to be opened in 2016 between Abony and Fegyvernek. The 29km motorway section will also include a bridge over

The Brazilian Government looks set to finance work to upgrade key highways in the country. This move comes although the highways were privatised in the 1990s, according to a report by Business News Americas. The work looks likely to cost as much as US$1.7 billion and will be carried out on highways that are operated by CCR and Triunfo Participações e Investimentos (TPI). Although the routes were privatised, the Brazilian Government will finance necessary upgrades as this includes highway expansion work not

A man in the English city of Liverpool is still allowed behind the wheel despite having accumulated 45 licence penalty points on his licence. This worrying fact was uncovered by the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) following a freedom of information request to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The points were all for failing to disclose the identity of the driver or exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road, between October 2012 and June 2013. This worryingly high number beats the

LiuGong Machinery now has a new management team. Wang Xiaohua, will retire from the post of chairman of LiuGong Machinery after having served LiuGong Machinery for 43 years, of which 15 years as chairman. The firm says that his contribution to LiuGong’s development has been instrumental in the firm’s drive towards globalisation. Wang will remain chairman of Guangxi LiuGong Group, the parent company of LiuGong Machinery. With Wang’s retirement, Zeng Guang’an will take over the position of chairman of LiuGong

Italy's motorway tolls have been increase by an average of 3.9% for 2014. The motorway stretches managed by Autostrade per l'Italia, covering 60% of the total motorway network in Italy, have seen their tolls rise by an average of 4.34%. And the average national rise does not reflect marked percentage increase differences in some parts of the country. Motorway tolls for the Asti-Cuneo, Messina-Catania, Autostrade Meridionali and Messina-Palermo stretches have seen no increase, and tolls for the Brescia-Pad