Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK News

Councils gain additional road works powers

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

Further powers are being granted to local authorities to reduce levels of disruption caused by road works in their areas.

The decision was announced by transport minister Norman Baker, who explained that the move will create an incentive for utilities companies to carry out maintenance during off-peak times and speed up such activities.

"While permit schemes are working well to reduce disruption from roadworks in areas where they have been sanctioned we think it sensible to try out a further option," he explained.

Councils will be able to apply lane rental charges of up to £2,500 a day for firms looking to dig up busy roads at the most congested times and guidance for those local authorities wanting to implement such schemes has now been published by the government.

Meanwhile, Britons could see their petrol and diesel bills rise as a result of the recent collapse of the Coryton refinery in London.

The facility on the Thames has entered administration, placing 1,000 jobs at risk and potentially leading to fuel costs soaring over the coming weeks, as supplies have to be sought from Europe, according to RMI Petrol chairman Brian Madderson, quoted in the Independent.

Government unveils lorry road user charging plans

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

A new proposal to ensure UK hauliers receive a fairer deal on the nation's roads has been unveiled by the government.

Roads minister Mike Penning unveiled the plans for a lorry road user charging scheme, similar to that in place in many other European Union member states.

He stated the coalition is committed to maintaining "the competitiveness of our logistics industry", adding: "Each year there are around 1.5 million trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries - but none of them pays to use our roads."

According to Mr Penning, hauliers in the UK are being invited to respond to a consultation on the proposals to ensure the final system is one that suits them.

Plans include imposing a charge of up to £10 per day for lorries, with the scheme expected to come into force from 2015 and UK-registered vehicles likely to receive compensation in the form of reduced Vehicle Excise Duty to cover the fee.

An October 2010 report by the Metropolitan Transport Research Unit suggested that any scheme meeting the government's pledge to introduce lorry road user charging should take issues relating to improving road safety, minimising local costs, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the economy.

First successful tests in safe road trains project

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

The first results have been gathered from the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) project in Europe.

Under the scheme, test demonstrations have been conducted using a lead truck and three cars in order to look at ways in which technology can be deployed on conventional highways.

The vehicles involved were all driven autonomously at up to 90 km/h in order to demonstrate how platooned traffic can be made safer, with gaps between the cars and truck of no more than six metres and a professional driver leading the road train.

In addition to examining technology for platooning, discussions are being held on what social infrastructure changes are required for such innovations to be adopted, regulations and the terminology that should be used.

Volvo Trucks traffic and product safety director Carl Johan Almqvist stated that the initiative "gives us the opportunity to explore future transport solutions and take advantage of the extensive research carried out at Volvo Trucks and Volvo Technology".

Led by Ricardo UK and funded under the European Commission's Framework 7 programme, SARTRE is looking at ways in which vehicle platoons can be brought into use to deliver safety, environmental and comfort benefits for road users.

The first results have been gathered from the Safe Road Trains for the Environment (SARTRE) project in Europe.

Under the scheme, test demonstrations have been conducted using a lead truck and three cars in order to look at ways in which technology can be deployed on conventional highways.

The vehicles involved were all driven autonomously at up to 90 km/h in order to demonstrate how platooned traffic can be made safer, with gaps between the cars and truck of no more than six metres and a professional driver leading the road train.

In addition to examining technology for platooning, discussions are being held on what social infrastructure changes are required for such innovations to be adopted, regulations and the terminology that should be used.

Volvo Trucks traffic and product safety director Carl Johan Almqvist stated that the initiative "gives us the opportunity to explore future transport solutions and take advantage of the extensive research carried out at Volvo Trucks and Volvo Technology".

Led by Ricardo UK and funded under the European Commission's Framework 7 programme, SARTRE is looking at ways in which vehicle platoons can be brought into use to deliver safety, environmental and comfort benefits for road users.

Rail industry agreement 'to boost services'

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

Improvements to passenger and freight services could be implemented more swiftly across the UK's train network under a series of new agreements.

Network Rail has reported that users will benefit from the "discrete individual alliance framework agreements" with a total of six operators to date.

The pacts are designed to enhance accountability across the ten geographic operating regions, with deals in place or being made with Northern, Southeastern, c2c, ScotRail and Abellio Greater Anglia.

In addition, a new kind of 'deep' alliance is being formed between Network Rail, other agencies and South West Trains for the Wessex route, which may involve the formation of a single joint management team to oversee trains and track on the line.

"Working more closely with the train operators will deliver a better service for passengers and freight users and at lower overall cost to the taxpayer," stated Network Rail chief executive David Higgins.

In related news, an extra 28,000 seats per day are due to be delivered under a new flexible franchise contract for the West Coast Main Line, which serves London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, with an invitation to tender now open for the route.

Changes unveiled to make driving tests tougher

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

Candidates sitting their driving theory test will no longer be able to swot up on pre-published questions under a new system commencing today (January 23rd).

The new system is intended to make testing better and to result in more skilled motorists with a greater awareness of the theory of being behind the wheel.

According to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), from today applicants will not be able to prepare answers by rote, but will need to gain an overall understanding of the subject in order to answer questions correctly.

"The intention is to improve candidates' knowledge and understanding of driving theory, so that they are more able to retain and apply it when they are on the road," stated road safety minister Mike Penning.

In November last year, the DSA announced that it was modernising the UK's drink-drive rehabilitation courses in a further effort to enhance road safety, improve standards and alter the way in which offenders are approved.

The body is also attempting to encourage more training providers to deliver the scheme in order to boost access in areas with high offending rates.

Call for more action to combat youth drink driving

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

More should be done to ensure the message about the risks of drink driving gets through to younger motorists.

This is the claim made by director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Neil Greig, who suggested this demographic group is the worst for such offences.

"Our research shows that half of young drivers don't know how much they can drink and still be under the limit, so the message is not getting through to them," he stated.

Commenting after statistics published by the Association of Chief Police Officers revealed there were over 7,100 people arrested for drink and drug driving over the Christmas and New Year period, Mr Grieg added that "lack of education and confusion about safe limits" is part of the problem.

IAM spokeswoman Caroline Holmes has warned of another risk to motorists and pedestrians from people using mobile phones and iPods.

She stated such technology can have an effect on safety, after a study by experts from the University of Maryland indicated there has been a tripling of people being hit by cars or trains wearing headphones since 2004.

New aviation bills focuses on passenger rights

webmaster@ciltuk.org.uk — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:31:47 GMT

Proposed new legislation has undergone its first reading in Parliament with a view to boost the rights of aviation passengers and air freight customers.

The Civil Aviation Bill is intended to replace the existing economic responsibilities of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), giving it greater flexibility to set airports' performance measures, encourage investment and improve dissemination of information.

Aviation minister Theresa Villiers explained: "Under the new rules, the CAA will be able to intervene much more quickly when an airport is failing passengers, for example on winter preparedness."

The CAA has announced it is establishing a Consumer Panel, which will place consumers at the centre of its operations in order to establish how it can best ensure the aviation industry delivers choice and value.

It will provide oversight and advice to the regulator and will have some ability to hold it to account, with CAA chair Dame Deirdre Hutton stating: "We want the panel to shine a light on the passenger experience of air travel and suggest practical solutions to problems they identify."