Podcasts about its uk

Road safety and intelligent transport solutions specialist Rennicks is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and this Highways Voices podcast marks the milestone, featuring Rennicks Chairman Michael Flanagan and Director Robert Tait.Mr Flanagan reflects on the company's journey from its origins in Ireland in the mid-1970s to becoming a recognised name in traffic signs, vehicle registration plate systems and intelligent transport technologies. He recounts how founders Robin and Maureen Rennicks identified an opportunity in reflective materials before expanding into traffic signage and eventually the wider road safety market.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.The podcast also explores some of the biggest challenges the company has faced, including a patent dispute that temporarily removed a key product line and threatened a significant proportion of the business. We hear how the setback forced Rennicks to diversify and innovate, helping lay the foundations for future growth.Looking to the future, Mr Tait discusses the growing role of intelligent transport systems, connected vehicle technologies and data-driven solutions. He highlights the opportunities presented by the government's RIS3 investment programme and the move towards digitally enabled road networks, while explaining how Rennicks is developing technology-led products to meet emerging customer needs.Throughout the discussion, Mr Flanagan returns to the themes that have underpinned Rennicks' success over the past five decades: putting customers first, investing in people and maintaining the agility to adapt to changing markets. As the company looks ahead to its next chapter, the podcast provides a fascinating insight into the growth of one of the UK's longest-established road safety businesses.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

What happens when you have the right idea at the right time… but still fail?In this thought-provoking episode of Highways Voices, Paul Hutton sits down with Andrew Caleya Chetty, founder of Starling Technologies, for a candid conversation about innovation, ambition, and the harsh realities of bringing new technology into the transport sector.Less than two years ago, Starling Technologies was generating excitement with its vision for smarter, more responsive traffic management. The company appeared perfectly positioned to help local authorities harness the power of AI and machine learning to improve network performance. Yet despite strong interest in the technology and a clear market need, the business ultimately closed its doors.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.So, what went wrong?Andrew shares the deeply personal story behind Starling's rise and fall, revealing why success in the intelligent transport sector requires far more than great technology. He discusses the challenges of lengthy procurement cycles, delayed project delivery, uncertain funding streams, and the difficulties of sustaining a start-up while waiting for opportunities to convert into contracts.But this is about much more than one company's story.The conversation explores the wider barriers facing innovation across transport and asks some difficult questions. If the industry wants to benefit from rapid advances in AI, data analytics and digital services, are current procurement and funding models fit for purpose? How can local authorities and suppliers work together to create an environment where innovators can thrive rather than struggle to survive?Despite the disappointment, Andrew remains remarkably optimistic about the future and passionate about creating better, more efficient cities through technology.Whether you're a local authority leader, technology supplier, consultant or anyone interested in the future of transport innovation, this episode offers valuable lessons, honest reflections and important insights into how the sector can avoid losing the next generation of game-changing ideas.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

ADEPT's Live Labs 2 programme has spent the last three years tackling one of highways' biggest challenges: how do you decarbonise roads, street lighting and maintenance without increasing risk, blowing budgets or frightening local authorities away from innovation?That's the subject of this week's Highways Voices podcast, where ADEPT's Giles Perkins gives an unusually candid insight into how the sector is trying to move from climate ambition to practical delivery.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.The conversation goes well beyond the standard “net zero” conversation. Mr Perkins explains that while the industry has focused heavily on reducing tailpipe emissions, Live Labs 2 is looking at “everything else” - the carbon generated by the infrastructure itself, from pothole repairs and asphalt production to verge maintenance, lighting and procurement processes.One of the most insightful parts of the discussion centres on risk. Mr Perkins describes how many local authorities are reluctant to be first movers because of fears around liability, standards and unintended consequences. Host Paul Hutton recalls conversations around East Riding of Yorkshire's street lighting trials where officers worried that removing lighting, even with alternative safety measures in place, could expose them to criticism or even coroners' investigations after collisions.The podcast explores how Live Labs 2 is trying to “de-risk” innovation by generating evidence authorities can trust. Projects discussed include low-carbon asphalt trials, carbon-negative road upgrades in Devon, Liverpool's work on procurement reform, and experiments turning highways grass cuttings into biofuels.We also learn why the programme's newly funded fourth year is perhaps the most important phase yet. Rather than building more demonstrators, the focus is now on dissemination: helping councils, contractors and suppliers understand what has worked and how it can be scaled nationwide. For example, applying some of the East Riding street lighting principles nationally could save around 100,000 tonnes of carbon and cut £1 billion from public spending.For anyone working in highways, local government, infrastructure innovation or transport policy, this episode provides a rare opportunity to hear how the sector is attempting to turn sustainability from isolated pilots into “business as usual”. It is also a revealing look at the cultural, procurement and behavioural barriers that still stand in the way of faster change.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

This week on Highways Voices, we tackle one of the most important issues facing transport professionals today: road safety.To discuss whether the industry is truly serious about Vision Zero, we're joined by Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, who delivers a frank and thought-provoking challenge to many of the assumptions drivers, policymakers and even transport professionals hold about safety on the road network.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.In the conversation, he argues that Britain's national speed limit system is outdated, particularly on rural roads, and explains why “safe speed” is often very different from the number shown on a sign. The conversation explores the backlash against 20mph limits, why compliance with speed limits remains so poor, and whether technologies like Intelligent Speed Assistance, telematics and autonomous vehicles could fundamentally change driver behaviour.We also discuss why road safety investment still struggles to secure funding despite crashes – including many which are preventable - costing the UK economy billions each year, and whether organisations that repeatedly claim “safety is our number one priority” are genuinely backing those words with meaningful action.Perhaps most importantly, Jamie Hassall makes the case for a major focus on work-related road safety, arguing that fleet operators and employers could play a transformative role in reducing deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads.This is a conversation guaranteed to spark debate across the highways and transport technology sector.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

As the Government prepares to introduce a new pay-per-mile charging scheme for electric vehicles from 2028, the debate is heating up and you'll hear the latest thinking on today's Highways Voices.In this recorded inside the Houses of Parliament, industry leaders, campaign groups, technology experts and motoring representatives come together to tackle one of the biggest questions facing the future of transport funding: how do we replace fuel duty in an electric future, and can it be done fairly and effectively?Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.With warnings of a £27 billion hole in Treasury finances as drivers move away from petrol and diesel, supporters argue EV road charging is inevitable. But concerns remain around privacy, public trust, fairness for drivers without home charging, and whether the technology, and politics, are ready.This episode explores:Why EV road charging is now firmly on the political agendaWhy simple odometer charging is not necessarily enough, or if smarter location-based systems are neededThe lessons the UK can learn from countries already operating road user chargingFears around a lower EV uptakeConcerns around driver privacy, public acceptance and implementation timescalesWhy the real challenge isn't technology, but political courageYou'll hear passionate arguments from across the sector, including advocates for smarter road pricing, warnings from EV drivers themselves, and hard-earned lessons from those who've delivered complex charging systems before.Whether you work in highways, transport policy, mobility technology or simply want to understand how the UK pays for roads in a post-fuel-duty future, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Listen now and join the debate on the future of road charging in the UK.You'll hear from:Ben Plowden – CEO, Campaign for Better TransportSilviya Barrett - Director of Strategy and Research, Campaign for Better TransportTim Wray – UK & Ireland Sales Director. KapschMax Sugarman – Chief Executive, Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS-UK)Richard Sallnow – Associate, PA ConsultingVicky Edmonds – CEO, EVA EnglandSteve Gooding, RAC Foundation, DirectorHighways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

Helen Clifford's story is remarkable enough on its own: in 1984, she became London Transport's first female mechanic, walking into a world of workshop pin-up calendars, no women's changing facilities and a culture that simply wasn't designed for women, and she's now been recognised for it.In this edition of Highways Voices, recorded at the London Transport Museum during celebrations marking the unveiling of a blue plaque in her honour, she reflects with warmth and humour on what it was really like to break barriers in one of Britain's most male-dominated industries.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.But this episode is about far more than one pioneering career. Transport for London's Director of Buses, Lorna Murphy, explains why inclusivity matters to the future of transport, why the industry still has a long way to go, and how getting more women into buses and highways ultimately creates better services for everyone.The conversation also broadens into a discussion about the future of public transport itself. Murphy shares TfL's thinking on how cities can encourage more people onto buses through affordable fares, seamless interchange and giving public transport priority on increasingly crowded roads. She also offers practical advice for local authorities taking greater control of their bus networks, arguing that successful regulation must focus relentlessly on what passengers actually need, from frequency and reliability to waiting environments and easy connections.Alongside reflections on joining the industry from Highways News's new recruit, Libby McMahon, this uplifting episode celebrates progress, challenges assumptions and explores how buses remain central to cleaner, better-connected cities.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

In this week's Highways Voices we discover how connected vehicle data is transforming the way we understand and manage our roadsIndustry veteran Steve Isaacs is Paul Hutton's guest to explore an innovative solution from Swedish firm Nira Dynamics, using data from hundreds of thousands of Volkswagen Group vehicles to deliver real-time insights into road conditions.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.By measuring friction where the tyre meets the road, this technology can identify hazards like standing water, ice, and snow as they happen, offering a powerful new tool for highway authorities.From smarter winter maintenance and reduced salt usage to proactive drainage and asset management, Steve Isaacs explains how the potential benefits are significant. With continuous, network-wide monitoring replacing traditional one-off surveys, this could mark a step-change in efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.Listen now to get a fascinating look at how everyday vehicle data can unlock unprecedented visibility of the road network.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

Here's our third episode of Highways Voices the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, and today there's a clear eye on the future, as anticipation builds for the ITS World Congress in Birmingham 2027.Host Paul Hutton brings together a mix of expert insight, industry conversation and on-the-ground perspective from one of the sector's key global gatherings. At the heart of the episode is a thoughtful overview from Chief Rapporteur Professor Eric Sampson, who distils the major themes emerging from the Congress. From data-driven safety management and inclusive mobility design, to the challenges of integrating transport modes and scaling up autonomous vehicle deployment, his reflections highlight both how far the industry has come, and how much work still lies ahead.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.There's a strong sense that intelligent transport systems are evolving rapidly, but not always smoothly. Discussions around user behaviour, equity, and affordability underline the importance of designing solutions that work for real people, while innovations in logistics, like remotely assisted electric delivery vehicles, show how technology is tackling urban challenges in new ways. At the same time, big questions remain, particularly around the business case and real-world impact of autonomous vehicles.Away from the conference sessions, the podcast captures the buzz of the exhibition floor and the value of international collaboration. A chance encounter with industry expert Neil Levett reveals how traditional civil engineering and cutting-edge technology are increasingly converging, with innovations like fibre-optic traffic monitoring systems pointing to a safer, more efficient future.The episode also explores the wider economic and social value of the ITS sector. ITS UK CEO Max Sugarman shares his research showing the industry is worth far more than previously thought, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and delivering significant economic impact, while also highlighting efforts to inspire the next generation.Running throughout the podcast is a growing excitement about what comes next, with strong international interest already building for Birmingham 2027, and you'll hear lots about this, plus get a flavour of a special reception for UK companies with the local British Chamber of Commerce.Overall, this episode is a compelling snapshot of a sector full of innovation, collaboration and ambition, and a great way to get a feel for the conversations shaping the future of transport.For additional information about Birmingham 2027 or to make enquiries and bookings, interested parties are invited to contact salescongress@mail.ertico.com or go to: https://2027.itsworldcongress.com/Jordan Cowley – Jordan.Cowley@tfwm.org.ukJasvinder Sidhu – j.sidhu@ertico.mail.comHighways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

Connected vehicle technology is no longer a future concept, it's already embedded in the cars people drive and the networks we operate. So why does deployment still feel slow and fragmented?Recorded at the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, this panel discussion focuses on the real challenge facing the sector: how to move from capability to widespread implementation. Bringing together leaders from government, industry and local authorities, the discussion explores what's holding progress back, and what's starting to unlock it.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.Hear from:Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO – ITS EuropeDarren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for TransportKerry Winstanley, Managing Director of LCRIGMax Sugarman, CEO of ITS UKTheir message is clear: the technology largely exists, deployment is the challenge.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

We're in Istanbul for the 2026 ITS European Congress this week, and we kick off our series of podcasts with our “pitwalk”, where we chat to the exhibitors on the UK Pavilion.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.Paul Hutton talks to ten guests in 25 minutes to underline to you how, from AI-powered cameras to radar-based incident detection, there's a huge amount of innovation here and now across the sector and that, more and more, data and AI are at the heart of modern mobility.Our guests are:Inada Penman, AECOMNora Ali, Clearview IntelligenceMurat Hayri Serafettinoglu, Fides (Clearview's Turkish partner)Giorgio Potenza, AGD SystemsHelen Garrett, MAV SystemsThomas Greene, Q-FreeLuis Miranda Hevia, Q-FreeGraham Jennings, Navtech RadarRichard Owen, AgilysisJordan Cowley, Transport for West MidlandsYou'll hear how collaboration is driving progress globally, with our UK companies working closely with international partners, sharing expertise and scaling solutions across borders.This highlights how connected the ITS ecosystem has become, and this isn't stuff of the future, it's here and now and making our lives better.Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

Today on Highways Voices we find out how improving performance in an industry can come down to an overlooked skill – communication.For decision makers in highways and transport operations, maintaining reliable, customer-focused services while hitting performance targets is a constant challenge.Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode.So this episode explores how a shift in recruitment strategy, focusing on communication and customer service skills rather than traditional operational backgrounds, and how it's helping one operation reduce complaints and improve relationships between different staff members.We're talking to Annette Pratten-Lane, Control Centre Manager at Arriva's Purley Way bus hub in London, whose rethink of recruitment strategy has led to a fourfold increase in female controllers – rising from 5% to 20% – by targeting candidates with strong communication skills rather than traditional bus industry experience.Reflecting wider industry efforts supported by the organisation Women in Bus and Coach, she's explained to Paul Hutton how diversifying your workforce can directly improve operational performance and reduce customer complaintsIn today's episode you'll learn why communication skills, and not a technical background, are becoming the most critical asset in control room environments and see how fresh perspectives from outside the industry can challenge outdated practices and drive better outcomesHighways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

This week's Highways Voices features one of the most important people in the highways and transport technology industries - Michael Schuch, the CEO of SWARCO.He sat down with Paul Hutton for an in-depth chat about the industry during Intertraffic Amsterdam and they discussed sustainability, the challenges around, and the state of the industry globally, plus, of course, AI and cyber security.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!By listening to this podcast you'll hear an industry leader explain why, while sustainability might not be grabbing the headlines as often these days, for SWARCO, it's a non-negotiable.You'll also hear why many of the biggest challenges in our industry aren't about the technology at all, they're about the systems around it and why mobility in the 2020s is definitely about making better use of what we've already got.This isn't the sort of podcast you get elsewhere where someone tells you how great his company is, it's about a real piece of thought leadership about our industry and where it's heading.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we visit the site of one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects, and one with a very interesting back story. The A417 Missing Link project in Gloucestershire has been covered quite often on Highways News, so now with construction work at a critical phase, Kevin Borras visited the project office in Birdlip to talk to National Highways, Kier Transportation and Prolectric about some of the unique and fascinating elements of the £460m road that, when it's finished, will link Brockworth and Cowley via a new, three-mile long dual carriageway.Aiming to reduce congestion and improve connectivity between the Midlands and the South, the project also includes the construction of a new junction and green bridges, with completion scheduled for spring 2027 - all with making as little environmental impact as possible a key priority. But why was it missing in the first place?Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We hear from National Highways' A417 Missing Link Senior Project Manager Celine Acard, Kier Transportation's Senior Project Manager Nick Williams and from Kathryn Adams, Product Manager for Prolectric, the company responsible for the project hitting its environmental targets, thanks to its use of renewable energy.You'll find out why the link was never built, how public engagement was used so smartly, how the unprecedented low carbon targets are being met, why the sustainability angle was deemed so important and how the needs and requirements of cows and bats were also part of the enormous equation.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

You're catching us in the RAI for Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 again on Highways Voices today as we discuss AI controlling traffic signals, smarter road safety systems, and data that predicts crashes before they happen.These podcasts are brought to you thanks to the support of SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL.In today's programme you'll hear from the CEO of SWARCO about changes to the business, ten flagship projects on four continents being showcased and the importance of cyber security.Meanwhile the CEO of ITS UK discusses the real value Intelligent Transport Systems bring to the economy, while TRL balance new innovations with keeping existing infrastructure up to scratch. We also talk about a merger between the International and European Road Federations while Valerann discuss why it sometimes takes longer for companies to get traction for their great ideas, even though they could have a really positive benefit when deployed.Our guests today are:Michael Schuch – CEO, SWARCOMax Sugarman – CEO, ITS UKGonzalo Alcaraz – Director General, IRF and Christoph Nicodem – Director General, ERFJames Long – Strategic Initiatives Director, TRLOlga Gonzalez – VP of Sales and Marketing, Valerann

Today on Highways Voices we return to discussing the challenges faced by highways authorities and freight operators at the kerbside, a solution to it and, more widely why this and other solutions to tackle congestion and air pollution aren't being snapped up.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We hear from John Crosk, Chairman of the Brewery Logistics Group, and Toby Hiles, Director at Grid Smarter Cities, to talk about how unsafe or inaccessible kerbside environments for city-centre pubs trigger missed deliveries, rework miles, health-and-safety exposure, and administrative cost spirals, and how it can be fixed.You'll hear about how to eliminate enforcement conflicts, reduce rework, and protect driver welfare, and how data can help local authorities prioritise the most hazardous streets, as well as the challenges to all innovators in getting their solutions embraced.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices, we talk "the madness of cars" with journalist and author Peter Hitchens, who is writing a book with that name arguing that Britain's transport infrastructure has wrongly been built around the motor vehicle, and that we are suffering today from the effects of flawed transport policy of the 1960s onwards.He talks about how he thinks our transport planners and users are locked in a transport system that doesn't work, and explains how we arrived here, with decades of prioritising road expansion, dismantling rail and tram systems, and shaping cities around cars. He talks about what it would have to take to rebuild a transport network that actually works for efficiency, resilience, and long-term public value.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!You'll hear a lesson about how historical policy decisions continue to drive today's congestion, land-use challenges, operational inefficiencies, and public-health impacts. He discusses the view that adding more roads rarely solves congestion, and about alternatives that could increase capacity without inducing more traffic and how thoughtful city planning can complement modern highway networks to create scalable, multimodal mobility.Press play now to hear why rethinking car-centric design could unlock more capacity, lower costs, and create a more resilient future for the highways and mobility systems you help shape.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

“The question isn't whether we can afford to maintain TOPAS, it's whether we can afford to become a nation where every junction is an experiment. Every upgrade is a gamble, and every innovation is incompatible with the last.”What happens to your network when every junction becomes an experiment—and every upgrade a gamble? That's the subject on this Highways Voices.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Kealie Franklin from TOPAS, Traffic Open Products and Specifications, which verifies compliance with specifications for traffic control products, is guest on the podcast, along with three key suppliers, Martin Andrews, Services Director at Yunex, Rob Harding, Engineering Manager for Telent's traffic business and SWARCO's Head of Product and Solutions, Derek McLean.They discuss why standards are not bureaucracy, but are the foundation that enables innovation, protects public investment and ensures compatibility across the UK network. With connected vehicles, AI-driven detection, and automated transport systems accelerating, the conversation suggests the stakes for getting this right have never been higher.You'll hear clear insight into why interoperability won't happen without us creating, and then demanding adherence to, rigorous standards, which are essential for safety today and connected and automated vehicle readiness tomorrow.There's a practical understanding of how TOPAS enables innovation rather than restricts it, including emerging updates such as enhanced detector messaging protocols and that a sharper procurement perspective helps us avoid false economies, vendor lock-in, and long-term maintenance risks caused by non-compliant or incompatible equipment.Whether you're a local authority or part of the supply chain, this is an important 30 minutes, and well worth your time.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

How can today's highways and transport technology leaders ensure the next generation has the skills, mindset, and support to tackle ageing infrastructure, funding pressures, and fast-moving transport technology?We'll find out today on Highways Voices as we hear from a group of young professionals looking to the past, present and future at a memorial for one of the greats of ITS, Professor John Wootton CBE, who was remembered at an event at the RAC in London last month.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In today's podcast, these young professionals - Seren Rayment, Oliver Stone-Houghton, Stephen Hughes and Elia Fetta - discuss concerns around end-of-life assets, to funding pressures and workforce retention, as well as practical perspectives on how technology, data science, and AI can support highways - while still keeping humanity and real-world experience at the centre.You'll also hear from a colleague of Professor Wootton, David Jeffery, about why he was such an outstanding pioneer in our industry, from founding his own consultancy to leading TRL through privatisation and helping set up ITS UK while supporting the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund.The evening was supported by one of Professor Wootton's former employees, Andy Graham of White Willow Consulting, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund and Professor Eric Sampson.Play this episode now to take away leadership insights that will help you future-proof your organisation while empowering the next generation shaping highways and transport technology.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we hear how the island of Malta is embracing British technology to transform its transport, as we talk to Kurt Farrugia, the CEO of Transport Malta to find out what happens when uncoordinated road works, political pressure, and emergency recovery collide to lead to the use of a single platform to prevent gridlock.This interview was prompted by TRL's exporter of the year win at last autumn's ITS UK Awards, and why Malta chose to digitise roadworks coordination at a national scale, and how their challenges, resistance, and lessons learned are directly relevant to UK networks dealing with congestion, resilience, and the push toward smarter traffic management systems.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In today's podcast you'll hear a real-world example of how digital road works coordination can reduce congestion, political tension, and operational risk across an entire transport network, with practical insights into overcoming organisational resistance, stakeholder buy-in, and implementation challenges when moving from email-based processes to shared digital platforms. This is a really interesting insight into how the UK can win the export business, so it's relevant if you run a network in the UK, or if you have a product you could sell overseas.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

This week on Highways Voices we talk to one of the intelligent transport industry's leading experts about everything from early sat-navs and traffic data collection to the latest in connected vehicles, and how to still be pushing the industry forward after 40 years.Andy Graham MBE is our guest, and we talk about his appearance in the King's New Year Honours, and what it means to him, and then you'll hear what he has to say about networks, operations, policy, digital transformation and customer outcomes. This episode speaks directly to a challenge you'll recognise: how to turn data and technology into safer, more efficient transport, without getting trapped by legacy systems, fragmented standards, or the slow pace of change.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In the chat you'll hear his view of how traffic data, connected vehicles, and digital services have come on over his career, and what still needs to change to unlock better outcomes, plus hear some reminiscences he has with host Paul Hutton about their time working on a series of projects, and how their paths almost crossed ten years before the first worked together.There are insights into why data-sharing, standards, and cross-industry collaboration often determine whether innovation succeeds or stalls, and how cyber security and privacy should influence future technology strategy and investment.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

The Government's Road Safety Strategy sets a target of delivering a 65% reduction in deaths and serious injuries on UK roads by 2035, but and are we prepared to make the tough, and sometimes unpopular, decisions required to get there?In today's Highways Voices we talk about how to turn an ambitious national road safety strategy into practical, funded, and deliverable action.Our guest is Dr Suzy Charman, Executive Director at the Road Safety Foundation, to explore where policy, infrastructure, speed management, and data-led decision making must change if safety outcomes are genuinely to improve, rather than simply be promised.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!You'll get a clear understanding of why a proactive, safe-system approach to road infrastructure and speed management is essential to meeting long-term casualty reduction targets.There's also an insight into where investment in technology, data integration, and standards reform can deliver the greatest safety and economic returns, and you'll hear her practical perspectives on how national strategy, local authority delivery, and industry expertise can align to move beyond consultation into measurable impact.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Ever wonder what your trusted journalists really sound like before the edit button saves the day, and what those messy moments reveal about the pressures and pace of our industry?In highways and transport technology, credibility is everything: you're expected to be polished in public, confident on panels, and precise when you speak to stakeholders. But the reality is far less tidy as you'll hear today on Highways Voices.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!This special “Christmas bloopers” episode is a light-hearted mirror of a serious truth decision-makers know well, but even experts stumble when the work is complex and the environment is noisy. Listening in, you'll recognise the human side of your own world, where the big ideas still land, even if the first take doesn't.WARNING - THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CLIPS THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK, SO PLEASE DO NOT PLAY IF YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE OFFENDED BY BAD LANGUAGE.Hit play for a quick, end-of-year reset that's equal parts laugh-out-loud and quietly reassuring—because even the people driving the highways conversation don't always nail it on take one.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Highways News - here's to a slicker year of Highways Voices in 2026!Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Ever wondered how many “safe, legal” morning-after drivers are actually still impaired, and what that means for road risk on your network?If you're responsible for safety outcomes, fleet policy, roadside enforcement strategy, or transport technology adoption, this episode lands on a stubborn, current problem: morning-after drink-driving is still a major slice of prosecutions and risk, despite years of awareness campaigns.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In today's Highways Voices with Alcosense founder Hunter Abbott, you'll hear why rule-of-thumb unit counting fails, how physiology makes impairment wildly unpredictable, and why “below the limit” can still mean elevated crash likelihood.“Somewhere between 50 and 55% of the users had had a reading the morning after, which stopped them from driving when otherwise… they would have got behind the wheel… we've literally stopped tens of thousands of people from drink driving the morning after," he says.If you manage a team that drives for work, you need to hear what Hunter has to say: Companies can be liable if staff drive intoxicated for work, not just the individual, so this helps manage the corporate risk around legal, safety, brand, and welfare.Hit play to get takeaways you can use in your next safety review or policy decision, especially during peak Christmas party season.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

We've seen it before, when the success and failure of a big investment is judged more by public perception than by what the data actually proves, so today on Highways Voices, we look at how to communicate the data, and how to deliver defensible, effective, and publicly trusted solutions, by hearing from someone who does exactly that every day.Our guest is one of the leading experts in the US in delivering data-driven solutions, Brett Ferrin of Traffic Logix - a man who's done everything from asphalt sales to barricades and signs and now enforcement and traffic calming solutions, delivering them even when emotion is louder than statistics.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In today's podcast he talks about the very real hesitation agencies have about adopting new tools because of litigation risk, policy lag, and “one-size-doesn't-fit-all” market differences.You'll hear a practical framework for data-led traffic calming choices, from baseline measurement to awareness tools, physical interventions, and enforcement options, with clear logic for when each step makes sense. He gives strategies to bridge the gap between data and public trust, including how to validate “ground truth” across multiple data sources and communicate safety reality when perception says otherwise, and adds real-world guidance on de-risking innovation and scaling across regions, covering litigation fears, policy variability, and why cultural/market context determines whether the same technology succeeds or fails in a new state or country.Well worth 25 minutes of anyone's time to have a listen, and to learn some new ideas.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

You often hear the phrase “safety is our number one priority” in our industry, but today on Highways Voices we hear from people who're putting money where their mouth is, as we talk Vision Zero in Oxfordshire.As the county hosts a road safety event in Oxford city centre this week, we chat to Andy Ford, Road Safety Manager at Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service and Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport Management.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We explore how Oxfordshire is turning the Vision Zero principle, that no death or serious injury is acceptable, into action. From speed limit reforms and data-driven education campaigns to the integration of enforcement technology and community-led design. You'll hear how Oxfordshire uses a whole-system approach, from junction redesign to behavioural education to transform road safety in Oxfordshire, and how they took the people with them by engaging on speed limits and active travel schemes… and that emerging enforcement and detection technologies are reshaping driver accountability and changing cultural attitudes toward road safety.By the way, Highways News is heading to Australia next and the ITS Australia Summit on Queensland's Gold Coast and I'll be reporting from there, thanks to the support of our friends at TRL, Westcotec, TomTom, NGIS, AGD Australia and Nicander and IntegrateITS. We'll be in Melbourne with a preview show from ITS Australia's offices next week, then from the event the week after. Don't miss them to find out the best in solutions developed in Australia, and how global suppliers might fill in any gaps.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is how to attract talent into highways and transport, so today on Highways Voices we discuss that very issue and hear about a solution that's there for us to use now, as we talk Skills for Life.This is a government-led campaign that promotes and provides access to funded skills and technical education opportunities for individuals and businesses, offering various programmes like apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and free courses for jobs to help people improve their career prospects and businesses find a skilled workforce.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!National Highways are very much behind this idea, so today we talk to its Head of Talent, Natalie Jones to find out more about it and its approach to apprenticeships and T Levels which can help you future-proof your workforce.Whether you're a public or private sector organisation, understanding how to attract and retain skilled people through real-world training could be the key to staying competitive, and sustainable, in the years ahead.In today's podcast you'll hear practical ways to address industry-wide skills shortages, from apprenticeships to T Levels and digital upskilling that's all covered by Skills for Life. You'll hear about proven methods to attract young people and career changers to roles in highways, transport, and STEM, including how early engagement and storytelling make all the difference and how we're all in this together because collaboration across the sector, from supply chains to schools, can create a stronger, more resilient workforce ready to tackle tomorrow's challenges.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

This week on Highways Voices we talk to both the public and private sector about the challenges facing, and the solutions helping, our industry today.We're at the LCRIG Strictly Highways event in Blackpool to hear fresh insights into how collaboration between local authorities, government, and the supply chain is unlocking new efficiencies and innovation across the UK's road network. You'll get real-world examples of how data, digital frameworks, and sustainability partnerships are helping transform road maintenance, asset management, and carbon reduction efforts, and you'll learn actionable takeaways on how to integrate best practices and emerging technologies into everyday operations to futureproof transport infrastructure.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts,Spotify,Amazon Music,Google Podcasts or Pocket Castsand never miss an episode!Our guests are: LCRIG Managing Director Kerry Winstanley, Darren Capes from the DfT, Dave Denner from the Welsh Government, Sunil Budhdeo and Rotherham MBC's Mick Powell, plus AE Yates, and their Marketing and Social Value lead Saffron Ramsey, Gaist CTO Stephen Remde and Megan Thompson, who's Tarmac Technical Product Support Manager.We'll also look ahead to Highways UK with organiser Claudia Davidson.Listen now to discover how our industry leaders are reshaping the future of highways, and get inspired to bring these innovations back to your own organisation.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

We make another one of our trips to a leader in our industry to find out more about becoming a successful business on today's Highways Voices, and give you some ideas in your day-to-day job.We're at Westcotec in Norfolk talking talking road safety, too, discussing how the key to reducing road collisions isn't just tougher enforcement, but smarter technology that educates drivers before crashes happen.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts,Spotify,Amazon Music,Google PodcastsorPocket Castsand never miss an episode!Managing Director Chris Spinks and Sales Director Olly Samways join us to chat about their business, and the interesting way it's owned and run, and to find out how their products - designed, built, and tested in Britain - are using great solutions, from off-grid power to award-winning collision prevention.You'll hear how Westcotec's technology has demonstrably reduced serious collisions in real-world projects, why local manufacturing, employee ownership, and sustainable design matter for long-term industry resilience and their ideas for the business case for investing in safety technology that delivers measurable returns compared to the cost of road fatalities.Oh, and you'll also hear about an 1,800-mile road trip being undertaken to raise money for disadvantaged people and those with disabilities to experience the benefits of sport; keeping them active and happy while improving their health and skills for the future.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Traffic signals remain the most effective way to manage transport networks in most urban centres, and they take centre stage this week in Leeds at the JCT Traffic Signals Symposium.Today's Highways Voices looks into the latest thinking in the industry, as we learn about SCOOT 8 AI from TRL Software, and how it, and PTV's Optima, are turning control rooms from reactive to proactive, preventing congestion before it starts.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We also hear from TOPAS (Traffic Open Products and Specifications) about why compliance with industry standards is more than a box-ticking exercise and how overlooking it could put safety, budgets, and reputations at risk, while Telent explain how collaboration between suppliers, engineers, and authorities is creating smarter, safer, and more sustainable transport networks without costly infrastructure overhauls.Press play now to hear about the latest innovations and debates that are changing how signals, data, and compliance drive the performance of our roads.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we feature what we believe to be Lilian Greenwood's last interview as Future of Roads Minister before she moved to the whip's office in the recent government reshuffle.Despite her moving on, it was such a good conversation that we should still share it with you, to give you an idea of current government thinking.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In her chat with Adrian Tatum, you'll hear them discuss what happens when decades-old motorways, mounting congestion, and unpredictable weather collide with today's demand for smoother, safer, and more resilient highways. We dive into the government's latest road investment strategy, RIS3, revealing how forthcoming funding, maintenance priorities, and policy changes will directly shape the future of highways, connectivity, and local economies.You'll hear how the government plans to rebalance priorities between new road schemes and maintaining existing assets to deliver long-term value, discover what proactive asset management and updated codes of practice mean for local authorities and contractors in real terms, and where strategic investments will unlock growth, reduce congestion, and strengthen resilience in the face of climate and economic pressures.Press play now for real insight into how the RIS3 decision will impact your network, your projects, and your travelling public.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

How much longer can our industry afford to keep filling potholes instead of preventing them in the first place?In our latest Highways Voices we discuss the situation that is drivers the most - the poor condition of our roads.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!During Pothole Prevention Week we hear that more than half of councils still carry out no preventive road maintenance at all, and look into why reactive approaches are costing millions more, damaging trust, and keeping the cycle of potholes alive, despite there being proven, cost-effective solutions are within reach.The RAC and the Road Surface Treatments Association have written to the Government calling for the introduction of mandatory training for councils who carry out little or no maintenance to prevent potholes forming, and guests Mike Hansford, Chief Executive of the RSTA and Simon Williams, PR and External Affairs lead at the RAC, discuss the need to factor in your maintenance from the very beginning, and to make it part of the overall project cost.They also explain how preventive maintenance saves up to five times the cost of resurfacing, describe pothole repair like Groundhog Day, and that practical strategies and case studies show early interventions extend road life, improve safety, and deliver visible results for drivers.You can sign up to the webinar they talk about here.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we'll look at how AI-driven maps, integrated traffic data, and smarter signal systems could cut congestion, boost safety, and transform how highways are managed, thanks to insights from HERE, Flow Labs and TomTom.This episode takes you inside the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress 2025 in Atlanta, where global experts reveal how new data partnerships, real-time integration, and AI are reshaping traffic management and mobility ecosystems that matter directly to your network's performance.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!You'll get insight into how AI and collaborative mapping initiatives are improving incident detection, fleet operations, and long-term planning, real-world examples of integrated data platforms that give agencies visibility across entire networks to optimise signals and improve safety and a clear view of how UK and global expertise is driving the next wave of resilient, future-ready transport solutions.We'll also hear from British Consul General to Atlanta Rachel Galloway, talking about the UK's hosting of this major event in two years' time, as the excitement builds towards Birmingham 2027.Along with Rachel Galloway, the guests are Jeff Rowen, Vice President Global Product Partnerships at HERE Technologies; CEO & Founder at Flow Labs, Jatish Patel; and Douglas Gilmour, TomTom's Global Traffic BD lead.The podcasts are presented from the UK & ERTICO – ITS Europe Pavilion at the World Congress, supported by Transport for West Midlands, AGD Systems, MAV Systems, Immense, Intelligent Instruments, Navtech Radar, Nicander and Zenzic.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

What if a single innovation could prevent visually impaired passengers from being left behind at bus stops, or if autonomous shuttles could fill the critical gaps in our transport networks?In this episode of Highways Voices from the 2025 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress, Paul Hutton speaks with pioneers reshaping the future of inclusive and intelligent mobility, from an app designed to make public transport accessible to everyone, to the rollout of autonomous shuttles that connect communities left out by traditional transit. The discussions highlight both the opportunities and the challenges in delivering equitable, safe, and sustainable mobility.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In today's show, you'll also hear insider perspectives from ITS Hall of Fame inductees on building successful autonomous shuttle businesses across Europe and beyond and critical insights into cybersecurity gaps in public transport systems and how agencies can safeguard infrastructure against inevitable attacks.There's also an update in the planning for the next Europe-based World Congress, when the major event comes to Birmingham's NEC in October 2027.Press play now to hear how today's innovations in inclusive mobility, autonomous vehicles, and cybersecurity are setting the course for the highways and transport systems of tomorrow.The podcasts are presented from the UK & ERTICO - ITS Europe Pavilion at the World Congress, supported by Transport for West Midlands, AGD Systems, MAV Systems, Immense, Nicander, Intelligent Instruments, Navtech Radar and Zenzic.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

What happens when innovative British ITS companies bring their latest breakthroughs to the global stage in Atlanta, revealing how traffic management, enforcement, simulation, and even noise control are being redefined for the next decade?You'll find out on today's Highways Voices from the ITS World Congress, where we have our popular "pitwalk" podcast, chatting to companies exhibiting on the UK Pavilion.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Our guests are from AGD Systems, MAV Systems, Immense, Nicander, Intelligent Instruments, Transport for West Midlands (for Birmingham 2027), Navtech Radar and Zenzic.Hear discussion about how leaders face the same urgent challenges: maintaining safety and reliability under budget constraints, adapting to changing regulations, and preparing for the future of connected, automated, and sustainable mobility. This episode discusses showcasing real-world solutions designed to address exactly those pressures, and seize the opportunities ahead.We discuss above-ground detection and AI-powered enforcement cameras to predictive simulation tools and centralized bus-priority systems, get insights into how global cities are adapting UK-developed ITS solutions to tackle congestion, emissions, and safety, and hear more about when the World Congress comes to Birmingham in 2027, and why it promises to be a significant knowledge-sharing and commercial opportunity.Press play now to walk the exhibition floor with us and hear directly from the leaders shaping the next era of intelligent transport.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we're in the USA for the ITS World Congress in Atlanta talking emerging technologies in transport technology, a new faster modelling solution and what it's like to be a CEO of a multinational company.Our guests are from Clearview Intelligence and WSP, and we bring you two CEOs - Christian U Haas from Umovity (pictured on his stand) and SWARCO's Michael Schuch.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!You'll find out what we're learning from pilot projects and deployments that can be scaled nationwide, and practical insights for aligning innovation with policy, funding, and public expectations.Plus you'll hear all about the planning for when this major event comes to the UK, with Transport for West Midlands banging the drum for Birmingham all week.Tune in now to hear proven strategies and fresh perspectives from the forefront of intelligent transport—your roadmap to staying ahead in the future of highways.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

What's really holding back innovation in our sector, and how do we finally break through?We find out together on today's Highways Voices as we hear about a brand new report from the Local Council Roads Innovation Group, called Inspiring Change Across The Highways Sector.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!LCRIG CEO Paula Claytonsmith is our guest to tell us about the in-depth study and how it's found that, despite growing enthusiasm for innovation, decision makers across highways and transport consistently face the same barriers: complex procurement, risk-averse cultures, and siloed learning.She talks about how most local authorities self-identify as innovators, but still feel stuck when it comes to real change. We hear that collaboration is being shaped by local authorities and some of the practical tools and support are being rolled out to drive shared innovation, knowledge hubs, and lasting sector improvement through 2026 and beyond.The full report is available here.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

How do you innovate, lead, and scale in an industry where policy, procurement, and public funding often stand in the way of real progress?We discuss this with one of our industry's leaders, Michael Schuch, CEO of SWARCO today on Highways Voices.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In our chat, we unpack the major roadblocks facing innovation in transport infrastructure - from rigid procurement processes to inconsistent sustainability policies. This conversation reveals how to navigate the frustrating gap between political ambition and practical deployment, and how to stay future-proof in the process.Michael gives reasons for the industry to work together to counter anticompetitive behaviour, discusses his culture of innovation across borders, even in the face of post-pandemic workplace challenges and explains why many groundbreaking traffic technologies never scale, and what's needed to change that. He also talks about the company's the GoGreen Initiative and how to communicate the value of smart mobility solutions to cities worldwide.This interview is a dip into the archives, originally shared in 2024 but as relevant 15 months later.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices, we cut through carbon reduction confusion, and look at taking meaningful action.We're joined by Brightly to talk Carbon Literacy, which is an understanding of carbon emissions associated with everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce them, as well as being about being aware of the impact of our choices, both as individuals and businesses.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Brightly has recently taken action on this, being accredited themselves as a business, and now they are using that learning to help local authorities with their targets.Our guest is Zoe Sterling-Wall, Business Development Manager for Sustainability at Brightly, who chatted to Adrian Tatum and discussed how carbon literacy training can simplify decision-making and empower action across entire highway networks. They also discuss how organisations like Brightly are leading by example and helping local authorities embed sustainability into operations, and you'll hear her advice about practical, scalable strategies to foster collaboration and accountability across departments and supply chains.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we return to our occasional series of Highways Business podcasts, where we look to explain the highs and lows, the profits, the losses and successes and failures of running a company in the highways and transport industry.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!With everything from the forthcoming launch of the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework 2 worth around £14.5 billion, to numerous local authorities looking to go to tender at any one time during the year, finding an organisation that can properly support bids can be tough. So today we talk to one that can, EIB.EIB is a client focused consultancy with a fully employed team delivering market leading bid management and writing support. Scott Brown, co-founder and CEO, and the company's Deputy Chief Executive, Caitlin Murphy join Adrian Tatum to tell the 33-year story of the business, why it was started in the first place and what potential did they see.In today's podcast you'll hear details of how how they set up the business, grew it and focussed it, and to get and retain the right staff for the right work. You'll also get details on how to win bids - why early engagement and client alignment are critical to crafting winning bids, how EIB's fully employed consultancy model creates consistency, quality, and client trust, and the practical tools you can use to improve a bid, everything from compliance matrices and storyboarding to cross-sector strategy.Hit play now to uncover how the EIB team achieves its rate—and what you can take from their approach to immediately improve your next bid.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Let's get around a hundred local authorities, local and national infrastructure leaders and cutting-edge transport technology companies together to redefine the future of highways on Highways Voices today.We're back at the LCRIG Innovation and Learning Festival after last week's show to discuss maintaining roads more efficiently, introducing autonomous vehicles and securing infrastructure from cyber threats, all while under pressure to do more with less.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!This episode offers practical solutions already being trialled as you'll learn about how autonomous shuttles are moving from prototype to real-world first/last mile transport solutions, discover how Coventry City Council successfully integrated drones, AI, and V2X tech to cut incident response times and emissions and you'll understand how public-private partnerships and technology-enabled asset monitoring, and smart procurement models are driving down costs and improving infrastructure resilience.Hit play now to explore how today's innovations in highway technology can make your operations safer, smarter, and more cost-effective—starting with what's already working across the UK.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

A truly groundbreaking road maintenance machine makes its debut on today's Highways Voices, while we get advice on innovation and funding from a leading local authority and hear a call to action on a new way of managing data.We're at the Innovation Festival in Warwickshire, which is an event for industry leaders and professionals dedicated to advancing highways maintenance and transport technology, with a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, demonstrations, presentations and networking.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Multevo launches its new Recycle, Rejuvenate, Repair machine on today's podcast where you hear what it does and why it could prove to be groundbreaking in more ways that one.You'll also hear from Sam Shean from Reading Borough Council on its approach to using innovation to lower carbon, while Dorian Isaacson from start-up zone attendee Streetwise discusses data counting and its value for road safety.On top of that, we hear about above ground detection and how the technology can replace, or work with, inductive loops, there's a roadworker safety solution demonstrated by Highway Resource Solutions and clever data management system from Nicander looking for someone to try it out.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Do you want to hear how you can keep innovating in your highways network when your budget barely covers the basics? Well you've come to the right place on this Highways Voices!With funding under pressure and increasingly complex transport demands, councils and suppliers alike are searching for smarter, scalable solutions. If you're navigating the challenges of integrating new technology, sweating aging assets, and justifying ROI to stakeholders, this episode unpacks how industry leaders are doing just that — with realism, creativity, and collaboration.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We're at the SWARCO User Group, where Highways News was invited to host a panel discussion to discuss driving innovation with budgets under pressure, and heard the council view from Sean Bulmer of the City of York, Rob Whiteside from Kirklees and Cambridgeshire's Richard Ling alongside John Pickworth and Andrea Newman from SWARCO.In this episode you will learn how modular system design is helping authorities build tech gradually, even with tight funds, and how collaboration across departments, and budgets unlocks new opportunities, while you'll also hear real-world insights into the shift from traditional loop detection to smarter, above-ground solutions and how they stack up in practice.Listen now to hear directly from local authority leaders and SWARCO experts on how they're making innovation possible—even when every pound counts.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Why aren't we more outraged that 1,700 people still die on UK roads each year?Today on Highways Voices we talk road safety because, despite having some of the safest roads globally, road deaths in the UK have plateaued, and efforts to reduce them, through enforcement, awareness, and education, aren't achieving meaningful impact.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who's head of Britain's roads policing, is our guest and gives us a real insight into her thoughts on keeping our roads safe, and indeed making them safer.She explains why a National Road Safety Board and collision investigation system could revolutionise how we tackle fatalities, gives her views on how emerging enforcement technologies like AI-powered cameras and in-vehicle sensors could eliminate risky behaviour before it becomes fatal, and discusses the cultural and legislative shifts needed to elevate road safety from afterthought to national priority.If you're worried about road safety, this is a must listen episode for you!Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Are shared transport solutions the missing piece in solving our congestion, infrastructure, and sustainability puzzle?As our industry constantly grapples with how to reduce car dependency, meet environmental goals, and deliver equitable, cost-effective mobility, we look at one solution today with Richard Dilkes, CEO of CoMoUK – the national charity for shared transport.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In this Highways Voices podcast he explains why shared transport, ranging from car clubs and e-scooters to digital demand-responsive transit, is not just a trend but a strategic tool for modern transport planning, explaining how this approach intersects with public policy, urban design, and real-world user behaviour, aiming to deliver healthier, more connected communities.You'll hear how shared mobility schemes are reshaping the transport ecosystem, but that even in London, there are still many gaps. He talks about e-bikes and e-scooters, their place in the puzzle and how safety issues are being addressed, and he and host Paul Hutton talk mobility hubs too, and how they could make it easier to take hassle-free, quick and convenient car-free journeys.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

We promise you keynote speaker-quality content on Highways Voices and today we have five keynote speaker-quality guests, as we bring you a recording of a panel discussion on the UK Pavilion at the ITS European Congress in Seville.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!We're talking international standards and how to make sure transport technology works cross-border with out guests which include three CEOs, Joost Vantomme of ERTICO – ITS Europe, LCRIG's Paula Claytonsmith and Max Sugarman from ITS UK, plus Danial Naqvi, Head of Opportunities Policy, Connected Vehicles Unit, International Vehicle Standards at the UK Department for Transport and David Laoide-Kemp, Chair of ITS Ireland and Senior Engineer - Intelligent Transport Systems at Transport Infrastructure Ireland.The UK Pavilion's participants are (in alphabetical order): AECOM, AGD Systems, Agilysis, AIM, ANGOKA, Immense, MAV, Nicander, Now Wireless, Teragence, VESOS and WJ.In the podcast you'll learn how UK and EU authorities are collaborating to overcome technical, political, and cultural hurdles to achieve interoperability, discover practical examples of how seamless data sharing is already improving travel and transport across the Northern Ireland border and get insights into how SMEs and local authorities can directly influence international transport policy and standards—without being drowned out by major players.So press play now to find out why interoperability and standardisation Are crucial for seamless transport, how local and national governance complexities affect implementation and that empowering SMEs and broadening industry influence Is essential.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum,

On today's Highways Voices you'll learn about solar-powered surveillance, AI-driven traffic modelling, ghost plate detection and lots of other technologies helping transform our highways.We're on the UK Pavilion at the ITS European Congress in Seville talking about innovations being showcased by a range of UK SMEs that are tackling the daily challenges we face.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Whether it's avoiding gridlock from mismanaged roadworks or combatting the rise in fraudulent number plates, these technologies are not just promising—they're in action.Host Paul Hutton tours the Pavilion to talk to Immense, Now Wireless, AECOM, ITS UK, AGD Systems/MAV, Nicander, Agilysis, AIM, WJ, VESOS and The ITS World Congress 2027.You'll hear how AI-powered simulation tools are helping authorities prevent traffic jams before they happens, learn how new structural monitoring and drone-assisted asset management systems are saving millions and preventing closures and, of course, hear how global ITS partnerships are positioning the UK as a leader ahead of the 2027 World Congress in Birmingham—and what that means for your future projects.Hit play now to hear firsthand how tomorrow's highway solutions are already driving results across the UK and beyond.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

We're in Seville for the ITS European Congress 2025, discovering how smarter data sharing, seamless standards, and automation are transforming how cities and nations manage traffic and mobility.This episode dives into how cities, governments, and private sector leaders are tackling today's biggest mobility challenges through collaboration, innovation, and smarter infrastructure strategies.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!You'll discover how better data sharing and common standards are unlocking the latest predictive traffic modelling and dynamic traffic solutions across cities and countries and hear exclusive insights from UK and European transport leaders on how AI, autonomous mobility, and digital infrastructure are shaping future transport policy.You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's most advanced Amazon distribution centres, revealing transferable lessons for logistics, automation, and traffic control.Tap play now to gain a competitive edge from Europe's top mobility minds and be inspired by innovations you can adapt for your own transport and highway strategies.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

What if you could slash graffiti removal costs and dramatically cut maintenance downtime on your concrete structures, without compromising durability or environmental compliance?That's what this Highways Voices is all about, as we talk about a subject that isn't often discussed, but should be - graffiti on road infrastructure, plus our ageing concrete bridges and flyovers.We're talking to Fosroc, a leading international manufacturer and supplier of high performance chemicals for the construction industry, with a particular focus on concrete and cement.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In this edition, Adrian Tatum is joined by Andy Hatch, National Concrete Repair Specification Manager at Fosroc. You'll hear him explaining how he and his colleagues are tackling these problems with innovative, field-tested solutions including a revolutionary non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coating that withstands up to 20 cleans, and a rapid-curing concrete repair material. You'll also find out about the company's full lifecycle approach - from lab R&D to on-site support - to deliver long-lasting protection for critical highway assets.Press play now to hear how you can future-proof your infrastructure with solutions designed to save money, reduce downtime, and protect your assets for the long haul.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Are you ready to see how innovation and cutting-edge solutions are reshaping the future of transport across Europe?As transport networks evolve under pressure to decarbonise and modernise, decision-makers face the challenge of balancing ambitious sustainability goals with real-world infrastructure and social needs.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!In this episode of Highways Voices, you'll discover how the ITS European Congress in Seville is spotlighting practical strategies — from bi-directional vehicle-to-grid technology to large-scale citizen-centred mobility pilots — that are crucial for overcoming today's transition hurdles.You'll gain insights into how collaborative, empathy-driven design is redefining sustainable urban mobility, understand how bi-directional charging and energy grid optimisation are reshaping traffic management KPIs and discover large-scale, European projects like MetaCase and the City Moonshot that are setting new benchmarks for electric and autonomous transport solutions.Highways Voices will be reporting from the ITS European Congress from 19-21 May, so hit play now to hear a preview discussing the real-world innovations and strategic insights that will shape the future of highways and smart mobility at Seville's landmark event.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.

Today on Highways Voices we look at build trust in artificial intelligence for use in the Highways Sector.With shrinking budgets and rising demands from both the public and government, local authorities are under immense pressure to deliver smarter, faster, and more accurate highway maintenance. So today, we look at how AI-driven inspections and integrated asset management systems are not only meeting these demands but redefining what's possible for councils and road managers.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!Our guests are Connell McLaughlin, CEO of Route Reports and Mark Rowe, Strategic Consultant at Brightly Software.They tell interviewer Adrian Tatum that we can be confident that auto automated inspections provide transparent, verifiable results that rival traditional manual surveys, and that the kit pays for itself with both proactive planning and reactive responses – saving time, money, and carbon. But they warn this is only going to work if it's a joined-up system meaning real-time collaboration across departments, and so better decisions with clearer insights.Tap play now to hear how AI and integrated systems are helping highway authorities make every pound – and every pothole – count.Highways Voices is brought to you with our partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ADEPT and ITS UK.