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A new study in Japan has highlighted the need to address the ability of older drivers to optimise road safety and cut crashes. The study looked specifically at how best to avoid road crashes caused by a deterioration in the physical condition of each driver. This research was carried out by Keio University's Center for Integrated Medical Research's Mineko Baba. Japanese road crash data shows that in 2016, there were 459 fatal incidents involving drivers aged 75 years or over.

Kubota is establishing a European headquarters at Nieuw-Vennep in the Netherlands. This move comes as the Japanese compact machine specialist says it wishes to further develop its presence in the European market. Called Kubota Holdings Europe, the new business will be 100% owned by the Kubota Corporation. Kubota established its first European business 43 years ago and this latest development is intended to help coordinate and grow its activities further.

Rising traffic fatalities and the challenges of driverless cars were the focus of recent hearing of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit in the US. Nearly 35,100 people were killed on US roadways in 2015, a 7.2% spike in traffic fatalities from the previous year. This was rather worryingly, largest single year percent increase in 50 years, according to testimony at the hearing. Officials said preliminary numbers appear to show that roadway fatalities increased further in 2016. “In addition to the

India is helping with funding for Nepal’s infrastructure development programme. In particular this funding will be used to help expand and improve Nepal’s highway network. The move has been highlighted by the recent presentation of a US$2.31 million cheque by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri, to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, Nepal. This financial assistance will be used in the construction of the Postal Highway, the Maisthan-Gaushalabazaar-Samsi Road and

Construction work is underway on the road improvement project between Kenya’s premier port of Mombasa and the town of Mariakani. The project will see the A109 route being widened and upgraded and is costing nearly US$59 million. The work is being handled by a Chinese contractor and the route will feature three lanes in either direction, boosting both capacity and safety. The first section of this work is for an 11km section from Mombasa to Kwa Jomwu. The A109 route is one of Kenya’s most important roads as

Plans are being drawn up in Ghana for the construction of three new bridges in the north of the country. In all the construction work will cost US$100 million and is being carried out in Ghana’s Northern Region. Two bridges will span the tributary of the Volta River, the White Volta, and will be built at Daboya and Yapeim close to the northern city of Tamale. The third bridge will be constructed at Buipe and will span another tributary of the Volta River, the Black Volta.

In Angola’s capital Luanda, three key road projects have now been awarded, with the work intended to help improve urban traffic flow and cut congestion at peak periods. One project will be carried out by the Chinese contractor China Railway 20 Group International. This project is worth some US$142.3 million and is for the second stage of the South-West Luanda Boulevard, which will run along the coast. Contractor Tecnovia Angola will handle the work for the other two projects. One is the $1 billion project f

The Indian Government has plans to redevelop road infrastructure links in the north east of the country. Planned spending of US$31.1 billion will be used to improve and upgrade the road network in the area by 2019. Plans have been drawn up by India’s National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) and by the Public Works Department of states.

The Italian construction machinery builders association, UNACEA, reports a resurgence in demand for equipment during 2017. According to UNACEA’s latest report, the first six months of 2017 have seen 5,109 machines sold in the Italian market, an increase of 6% compared to last year. Looking more closely, sales of earthmoving machines grew 6% with 4,910 machines sold, while sales of road equipment increased by 9% with 199 machines sold.

China’s Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces are developing transport infrastructure with a series of major projects. In Anhui Province plans have been drawn up for road and highway improvements as well as upgrades to other categories of transport infrastructure over the period from 2017 to 2021. The road expansion programme will see Anhui Province increase its highway network by 1,157km to 5,700km during this period.