News

A new study in Japan has highlighted the need to address the ability of older drivers to optimise road safety and cut crashes. The study looked specifically at how best to avoid road crashes caused by a deterioration in the physical condition of each driver. This research was carried out by Keio University's Center for Integrated Medical Research's Mineko Baba. Japanese road crash data shows that in 2016, there were 459 fatal incidents involving drivers aged 75 years or over.

Kubota is establishing a European headquarters at Nieuw-Vennep in the Netherlands. This move comes as the Japanese compact machine specialist says it wishes to further develop its presence in the European market. Called Kubota Holdings Europe, the new business will be 100% owned by the Kubota Corporation. Kubota established its first European business 43 years ago and this latest development is intended to help coordinate and grow its activities further.

Rising traffic fatalities and the challenges of driverless cars were the focus of recent hearing of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit in the US. Nearly 35,100 people were killed on US roadways in 2015, a 7.2% spike in traffic fatalities from the previous year. This was rather worryingly, largest single year percent increase in 50 years, according to testimony at the hearing. Officials said preliminary numbers appear to show that roadway fatalities increased further in 2016. “In addition to the

India is helping with funding for Nepal’s infrastructure development programme. In particular this funding will be used to help expand and improve Nepal’s highway network. The move has been highlighted by the recent presentation of a US$2.31 million cheque by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri, to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, Nepal. This financial assistance will be used in the construction of the Postal Highway, the Maisthan-Gaushalabazaar-Samsi Road and

Plans are being drawn up in Ghana for the construction of three new bridges in the north of the country. In all the construction work will cost US$100 million and is being carried out in Ghana’s Northern Region. Two bridges will span the tributary of the Volta River, the White Volta, and will be built at Daboya and Yapeim close to the northern city of Tamale. The third bridge will be constructed at Buipe and will span another tributary of the Volta River, the Black Volta.

The Indian Government has plans to redevelop road infrastructure links in the north east of the country. Planned spending of US$31.1 billion will be used to improve and upgrade the road network in the area by 2019. Plans have been drawn up by India’s National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) and by the Public Works Department of states.

The Italian construction machinery builders association, UNACEA, reports a resurgence in demand for equipment during 2017. According to UNACEA’s latest report, the first six months of 2017 have seen 5,109 machines sold in the Italian market, an increase of 6% compared to last year. Looking more closely, sales of earthmoving machines grew 6% with 4,910 machines sold, while sales of road equipment increased by 9% with 199 machines sold.

New data from India shows an improving situation with regard to road safety. The country’s annual road death toll is enormous but the latest figures available show that for the first three months of 2017, there were reductions in both road fatalities and road crashes. The figures suggest a drop of 7% in both road deaths and road crashes. Karnataka showed particular success in road death and crash reduction, with Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu also seeing significant improvements in road

Global design and civil engineering consultancy Stantec has appointed Gord Johnston as its next chief executive and president from January 1, 2018.Johnston, who is executive vice president of Stantec’s infrastructure business operating unit, takes over from Bob Gomes, who retires.

The first of a new-style smart motorway emergency stop area is being trialled on the M3 in England’s county Surrey. The redesigned emergency area has a highly visible orange road surface and better signs to help improve its visibility make it more obvious to drivers on smart motorways, according to Highways England.

Highways England has awarded Dynniq a major construction deal in South West England under a framework contract. Dynniq picked up the South West region four-year Construction Work Framework Lot 6 (Technology). Highways England’s South West region comprises Areas 1 and 2 - the largest highways are in England covering 11% of the strategic road, around 370km running between the cities of Cheltenham and Penzance.