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Brazil’s road death rate could be reduced with safer vehicles. This has been highlighted by a new research report from the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). The report has revealed that 34,000 Brazilian lives could be saved and 350,000 serious injuries prevented by 2030, if UN vehicle safety regulations were adopted and car manufacturers sought to achieve higher ratings in the Latin NCAP crash test programme.

London requires a radical new strategy to delivering the transportation development the city will need to cope with its fast growing population. Martin Tugwell, Transport Programme Director for England’s Economic Heartland Strategic Alliance said, “A road network fit for the world’s fifth largest economy cannot be planned from London: it is time for a revolution in approach, one that is focused on meeting our needs.”

The planning of strategic highways in England is locked into a two-tier mentality that is not good for the economy or for society. It is time to change. That is the message that David Quarmby, former chair of the RAC Foundation and head of RJRF’s Major Roads for the Future study, will be bringing to Highways UK, the landmark new roads conference at ExCel, London, 25th-26th November. In his keynote address Quarmby will argue that while welcome new funds, a new planning regime and a new arm’s length ro

Work is now underway on a new highway in Mexico’s Baja California State. The Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) has invested US$148.7 million in building the new Cabo San Lucas-San Jose del Cabo highway. The 38.7km project will include the construction of Caduano Bridge, the renovation and expansion of the Santa Rosa-Puerto Chale road and road surfacing at Todos Santos municipality.

Poland’s road authority GDDKiA has signed 13 road deals and has secured European financing worth a combined total of €1.91 billion. These works are being carried out from 2014-20. The available EU finance in the current perspective allocated to GDDKiA's projects stands at close to €10 billion. Poland’s road investment programme for 2014-23 includes building at least 3,900km of roads and 57km of ring roads.

Financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will help develop Tunisia’s road network. A 34 year loan worth nearly US$192 from the IBRD will help fund the work. The deal was agreed between the IBRD and the Tunisian Assembly of the Representatives of the People. The road projects will enable an improved access to a number areas in the country.. A special office will be in charge of monitoring bridges from 2016 and drafting reports regarding their condition. Similarly, Tunis

Italian global infrastructure group Salini Impregilo has agreed to buy 100% of Lane Industries, an American highways contractor and the “top private asphalt producer” in the US. Lane, a family-owned business based in Cheshire, Connecticut, was bought for US$406 million and has a turnover of around $1.5 billion. The company has three divisions: asphalt production, road projects and other infrastructure projects, in domestic and international markets. A statement from Salini said Lane is participating i

A wheelchair user was recently caught hitching a ride up a hill in the Brazilian city of Salvador. It’s slow progress, as the video shows, and care was taken by the driver to deliver his “passenger”. It is not known if the wheelchair owner had to pay for his external ride. His feat was not the first time he has picked up a lift, according to media reports that quote some of his neighbours. Media have also said the city is one of Brazil’s worst for getting around if you are in a wheelchair. The head

French construction group Vinci has been named preferred bidder for construction and operation of the previously canceled western motorway bypass in Strasbourg, northeastern France. Vinci will lead a consortium for the project estimated to need €475 million. The contract will be signed next year with construction to start in 2017, according to a report in the French newspaper Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace

Data from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) shows that motor vehicle traffic has increased, for the tenth quarter in succession. Motor vehicle traffic in Great Britain increased by 2.2% in the year ending September 2015 from the previous year. The provisional figure of 505.76 billion vehicle km is the highest rolling annual total ever and 0.6% higher than the pre-recessional peak in the year ending September 2007. The upward trend in traffic volumes is likely to reflect growth in the UK economy, wi