A number of high profile decision makers from around the world will tackle the issue of how to fund and apply the huge range of Intelligent Transport solutions at the first annual ITS (UK) Summit this November. The Society, which is the voice of transport technology in the UK, is committed to go beyond what the technology does to examine the barriers to implementation.

A new event aimed at debating and discussing how ITS strategies and technology can help solve challenges on the road network will bring together all the relevant stakeholders involved with planning, managing and delivering change.

The UK needs to change its approach to transport investment to capture the economic and social benefits of emerging transport innovations in Connected and Autonomous Transport, New Mobility Services and Open Data, according to the Transport Systems Catapult. New research from the TSC and Deloitte shows the “Intelligent Mobility” industry, which encompasses these technologies, could be worth £1.4 trillion globally by 2030.

A significant improvement in driver behaviour and speed limit compliance, and a resulting drop in accidents, has been measured since Scotland’s first urban Average Speed Camera (ASC) system went live on Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh one year ago.

Stephen Russell, transportation director at engineering consultancy Sweco UK, explains that using data-driven technology to optimise traffic flows could help unlock one of the UK’s major transport challenges.

Hampshire County Council hopes to save at least 200 work days a year in its Highways Operations Centre through the use of Robotics Process Automation (RPA) - a digital technology that assists staff by automating every day tasks using computer code.

There is growing UK interest in ‘late bus’ traffic signals technology as an ‘equitable’ form of bus priority, with two cities installing the technology. Liverpool and Swansea are now applying the technology, which alters signal phasing only when an approaching bus is late.

The UK-based Travel Spirit think tank has joined forces with the ITS Europe-hosted MaaS Alliance to speed up MaaS deployment in the UK and more widely.

The Automated and Electric Vehicles Act has passed through Parliament giving the Government new powers to ensure the installation of electric vehicle charging points and bringing automated vehicle insurance in line with longstanding motor insurance practice.

Audi and motorcycle manufacturing subsidiary Ducati have joined forces in a bid to avoid collisions between the two vehicle types.

Ford Motoring CO. has announced plans to create a separate self-driving vehicle operations unit with a $4bn investment, following a similar move in late May by Detroit rival General Motors Co with its Cruise Automation unit.