Latest road safety news in brief:
- Day-one crash for self driving bus (09 Nov)
- Belgium: video campaign brings speeders together with families of traffic victims (08 Nov)
- Brake publishes report on managing grey fleet drivers (08 Nov)
- Scotland looks at future of trunk roads with new strategy (06 Nov)
Click here to read the road safety news in brief from week commencing 30 October.
09 Nov: 10.00
Day-one crash for self driving bus
A self-driving shuttle bus in the US was involved in a collision on its first day of service (BBC News).
Image: NAVYA
The vehicle – which had several passengers on board at the time – was hit by a lorry driving at slow speed.
Nobody was injured in the incident, which is said to be the fault of the human lorry driver.
The shuttle bus is the first of its kind to be used on public roads in the US.
WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER
08 Nov: 12.00
Belgium: video campaign brings speeders together with families of traffic victims
A ‘powerful’ new video created by police in Belgium, alongside a traffic victims organisation, has been viewed more than half a million times on Facebook.
The short film shows speeding drivers pulled over by the police and then invited to step into the back of a car where they meet a stranger who has lost a loved one due to speeding.
The campaign, which uses the hashtag #SpeedTalk, features the slogan ‘there are conversations that you never forget’.
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08 Nov: 11.15
Brake publishes report on managing grey fleet drivers
Brake has published a ‘crucial’ guidance report for fleet managers and HR professionals across the UK.
‘Managing the grey fleet’ is described as ‘essential reading for all professionals with responsibility for managing the complexities around running a grey fleet’. The report is one of a series, produced by Brake which aim to help fleet managers reduce their road risk.
The guidance report outlines the risks involved with grey fleets, and includes an industry case study. Practical advice on how companies can strive to eliminate road risk for their employees is also presented through best practice guidance.
Ross Moorlock, business development director at Brake, said: “Every organisation has a responsibility for the safety of employees who drive their own vehicle for work. This essential guidance report outlines ways in which organisations can make simple improvements to manage their at work road risk; a crucial read for every company.”
MONDAY 6 NOVEMBER
06 Nov: 09.45
Scotland looks at future of trunk roads with new strategy
A new framework has been launched to ensure that the systems which help keep Scotland’s trunk roads moving are geared-up for future technological advances.
The Future Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy outlines how Transport Scotland will make the best use of its resources to keep pace in a rapidly evolving field which is seeing increasing in-car technology and developments in data management.
Intelligent transport systems (ITS) are the technology and communications used to improve efficiency and safety for transport users. It includes monitoring equipment, like traffic detection sensors and gantry signs as well as the web services and social media channels that are used to give drivers real time information on the move.
The new strategy also takes into account the growing field of connected and autonomous vehicles which are expected to have ‘significant benefits for road safety’ and in ‘transforming how real-time traffic monitoring and analysis can be carried out’.
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s transport minister, said: “This is a rapidly evolving field, with developments taking place in a wide range of areas and we want to be ready to take advantage of these.
“Our ITS strategy will help guide our services for the next ten years and beyond, building upon our successes and guided by the views of the public as well as transportation professionals.”
BECAUSE OF THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING NATURE OF THIS COLUMN WE HAVE DEACTIVATED THE READER COMMENTS FACILITY.
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