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Preliminary data from Destatis, Germany's Federal Statistics Office, shows a worrying increase in road related fatalities during 2011. The number of people killed in traffic accidents in German increased 9.4% to 3,991 in 2011 compared with the previous year. Injuries in road accidents also increased 5.5% to some 391,500. The unfavourable development was e.g. attributable to weather conditions. However, the total number off road traffic accidents recorded by the German police fell by 2.8% to around 2.3 mi

The Kenyan Government is planning to invest US$4.82 billion in a major multi-modal infrastructure project to reduce Nairobi’s traffic congestion. The Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) will include a new rail transport network, and a public road of 167km linking the city with key neighbouring towns and municipalities such as Athi River, Kikuyu, Kajiado, Kitengela, Limuru, Machakos, Ruiru and Thika. The MRTS project will be managed by Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority and th

Smart Signal Technologies has launched what it claims is a remarkable new product that will save taxpayers millions of dollars annually as it improves traffic signal performance along congested signalised arterial corridors. The product, a compact device with powerful data collection and communication features, permits the gathering of high resolution data for processing into actionable real-time information to measure and monitor signal and corridor performance. Using unique AdaptiTrol technology licenc

ITS America and Southwest Research Institute are once again sponsoring the Annual Student Essay Competition for the 2012 ITS America Annual Meeting & Exposition, which is being held in Washington D.C. on 21-23 May, 2012. Designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of ITS and solutions, the objective of the essay competition is to provide an opportunity for today’s transportation and engineering students to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking and enjoyable c

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has announced that 32 firms submitted responses to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDoT) Request for Information regarding the operation and integration of the state's transportation operations centres (TOCs). VDoT operates five TOCs across the commonwealth that monitor traffic conditions via cameras and other technology, providing traveller information on road conditions and coordinating congestion management and incident response. “I am extremely pleased wit

Using smartphones for social networking while driving is more dangerous than drink driving or being high on cannabis behind the wheel according to research published by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) in the UK. Despite this, eight per cent of drivers admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving. Twenty-four per cent of 17-24 year old drivers, a group already at higher risk of being in a crash, admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving.

Kapsch TrafficCom has concluded an agreement with leading French toll service provider Axxès for the supply of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology on-board units (OBUs) and central solutions for the French Ecotaxe project. This is a nationwide distance-based truck charging system to be implemented on 15,000km of French roads from mid-2013 onwards. The contract value is over US$33 million. "This is the largest win in the GNSS technology in the history of Kapsch TrafficCom," says André Lau

Dalian city in China has set out a budget worth some US$2.3 billion for 45 key projects in 2012. The projects include the construction of 300km of rural roads and 254km of trunk roads. Two highway construction projects stretching over 55km are also included and these are Zhuanghe-Gaizhou expressway and Dalian Bay Port area expressway. Meanwhile, Bohai Avenue construction will be fully kicked off, and Changshan bridge's main section is to be completed within 2012.

Plans are in hand in Russia for a new bridge spanning the Kuban River in Krasnodar. The 300m bridge will carry four lanes of traffic when it is complete over the Kuban River. The design work for the bridge is expected to be complete in spring 2013. The new bridge will help reduce congestion as the current Yablonovsky Bridge features just two lanes. It was designed to handle 6,000 vehicles/day but is instead carrying up to 30,000 vehicles/day.

A stakeholder workshop is being organised by the SATIE project, which is co-funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme for Research. The workshop will be held following this year’s Transport Research Arena in Athens on the 26th April 2012and from 14:00 – 18:00. The free workshop is being targeted at those delegates interested in research, innovation and deployment of ITS technologies. The workshop will help explore options to design, develop and deploy a major new Europe-wide init