Archives 2021

ITS (UK) launches new education campaign around transport technology

The UK’s Intelligent Transport Systems trade association, ITS (UK) is drawing up a series of case studies, fact sheets and blog posts explaining the benefits of using technology to deliver safer, greener and more efficient mobility.

The campaign follows a series of criticisms of some aspects of technology use, often around smart motorways, which it is feared are beginning to undermine the whole value proposition for ITS, which is the use of computers, communications, positioning and automation technologies to improve the safety, management and efficiency of transport.

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ITS Norway organises webinar series on C-ITS

SAMS Norway and ITS Norway are setting up a series of technical webinars about upcoming C-ITS technologies and standards. Recordings and presentations for two of them can be found at the links below:

The next webinar in the series is about C-ITS and it’s place in CCAM and will take place on 27th April. You can find more details and register here.

PACTS asks ITS (UK) for approvals feedback

The UK’s enforcement technology industry is being urged to give feedback on aspects of legislation and approvals that it feels could be improved.

At a meeting of the ITS (UK) Enforcement Forum, David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety suggested that there may be shortcomings in the Home Office Type Approval process.  “While it ensures high standards and evidence that will stand up in court, we are increasingly concerned that the system is just not delivering,” he said.  “Opportunities to exploit new technologies which do deliver significant safety benefits are being missed and even existing systems are at risk. We are not the experts on this – we need information from people who are directly involved, about what’s going on, problems arising or solutions – so please let us know.”

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ITS (UK) launches membership drive

The UK’s Intelligent Transport Society is beginning a campaign to boost the number of organisations involved, as it looks to attract “new mobility” companies to complement the vast existing membership across all forms of ITS.

ITS (UK) is the world’s oldest national ITS Association, boasting 150 members from across Government, consultancies, transport technology manufacturing and academia.

New providers delivering emerging solutions as diverse as electric vehicle innovations, smart parking, driver assistance systems and micromobility are also welcome, with ITS (UK) keen for them to become part of the membership.

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ITS (UK) urges prompt payment for SMEs

The UK’s Intelligent Transport Society, ITS (UK), is issuing a call for all major companies to honour the payment terms with their SME suppliers.

The plea follows comments from a number of ITS (UK)’s smaller members who have described how they have had to wait more than four times the agreed 30 days to receive payments totalling many thousands of pounds.  This delay in payment is putting a huge amount of strain on cashflow, which ITS (UK) says at best blocks innovative SMEs from participating in projects with long supply chains and at worst puts businesses at risk of bankruptcy.

The Highways England Fair Payment Charter commits to the organisation paying invoices within 30 days or receipt, and HE expects its contractors to do the same.  However, it has emerged some contractors are adding in a number of extra steps which delay payment, including an “Application for Payment” which can take several weeks to process before a “Payment Certificate” is issued.  Only then can an SME send an invoice and after that it may face the contractor’s payment terms of up to 60 days.

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ITS (UK) honours Student and Apprentice Essay Award winners

The UK’s Intelligent Transport Society has recognised creative thinking amongst its early careers professionals, honouring an apprentice and a student member who have won the 2020 ITS (UK) Essay Competition.

The competition wanted candidates to imagine the speech they would give at their retirement ceremony.  They were asked what impact and influence on the industry they would like to envisage, and the legacy they would like to leave behind.

At an event hosted by ITS (UK) President Steve Norris, Lynsey Michelle Turner of AECOM was awarded the prize in the Apprentice category while Ethan Boys from Newcastle University won amongst the students.

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