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A new report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) in the UK suggests that older drivers are as safe as drivers from all other age groups, and perhaps more so. The study shows older drivers have better attitudes to safety, deal with hazards better than young drivers and use experience to increase their safety margins on the road. The report reveals that drivers over 75 react just as quickly as other age groups when a vehicle emerges from a side road or if the car in front brakes suddenly on a rural r

The latest data available suggests that traffic pollution is still harmful to health in many parts of Europe. Transport in Europe is responsible for damaging levels of air pollutants and a quarter of EU greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the resulting environmental problems can be addressed by stepping up efforts to meet new EU targets, according to the latest report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EEA’s annual report under the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM) assesses the

Road safety in Kenya looks set to improve following the introduction of tough new traffic laws. The much tougher penalties now in effect include the maximum sentence of a life term for causing death instead of the previous 10 years. Meanwhile driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs will result in fines of up to US$5,750 or a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. The fine for driving under the influence was previously just $172. The fines for speeding or driving on the pavement have been incr

In Russia the Ministry of Transport proposal to introduce payment for the owners of heavyweight trucks over 12tonnes could increase cargo transportation tariffs by 10%. Consumer goods prices are also expected to rise, especially outside Moscow and St Petersburg. Leonid Shlyapnikov, CEO of Sovtransavtoekspeditsiya, thinks shipping companies may incur additional expenses on the installation of on-board computers, GLONASS navigators and placement on unified register. New norms and fees are to be added to the e

Construction machines from Shantui are now being supplied to the United Nations (UN), for use in Africa. The machines are being used by UN peace-keeping forces in Africa, having passed the stringent testing and performance requirements of the UN for harsh road condition use and special applications. The deal came following the necessary procurement certification from the UN. Shantui’s supply deal is for machines including military-level bulldozers, wheeled loaders and road machinery.

A consortium formed by ICTAS of Turkey and the Italian firm Astaldi has won a tender to build a third suspension bridge over Istanbul’s Bosphorus. Despite criticism from planners and environmentalists, the 1.3km structure, the longest over the strait, has been given the go-ahead by Turkey’s Transport Minister, Binari Yildirim. A joint venture of local company IC Içtas Insaat and Italian Astaldi has won the tender for the project, and Minister Yildirim is reported as saying the bridge would be built in three

The state government of Kerala in India has given an in-principle approval to raise auto-rickshaw, bus and taxi fares due to an increase of INR 5 (US$0.10) per litre in diesel prices.

Intuitive software solutions provider to the mining and exploration industry, BNA-Micromine, has been honoured for the second consecutive year at the 5th Top Engineering Awards 2012. BNA-Micromine Latin America director Beck Nader received the trophy at a ceremony in Minas Tenis Clube II, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in the category of engineering mining/metals/steel - software of exploration, geology/production control of mines. Nader says: “Success in this award category really symbolises what has been a succ

Elevated highways stretching 34.5km in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City may be developed at US$2.68 billion. The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Transport are tweaking the project in a move to lure investors. None have come forward at present.

The Serbian government has reported that it is planning to sign a loan agreement with China's Exim Bank for new loans worth US$ 1.1 billion for construction of the Corridor 11 motorway. Minister of Finance, Mladan Dinkic, said that the loan will be used for construction of the Belgrade-Ljig and Pojate-Preljina motorway parts. The contract agreement is due to be signed by the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. Works are expected to start sometime next year.

Doosan Portable Power has launched a new 50Hz version of the company’s LSC (LightSource Compact) portable light tower for markets in the Middle East and Africa. Also available as a 60Hz model, applications include lighting on road and bridge construction sites; general construction applications as well providing lighting for special events, emergency and disaster relief, oil and gas drilling and for mining and quarrying locations. The light tower has a new power train based around the Kubota D1005 water-coo

Major equipment manufacturers have signed up for bC India 2013 for the first time with space for the event running out. Despite extending the available exhibition space to 150,000m² (2011: 88,000m²) bC India 2013 is already almost fully booked. Thomas Löffler, chief executive officer bC Expo India, says: “Many companies have booked more space than at the first event. That shows the high regard bC India already enjoys among exhibitors.” JCB has been attracted to bC India 2013 as a first-time exhibitor.