Electric Roads: a Solution for the Future

Posted on January 14, 2015 by nradmin

In several years we will need to rely on something other than fossil fuels for our transport needs. One possible alternative is for our vehicles to run on electricity supplied along the road. In autumn 2014, VTI partnered with the Swedish Transport Administration and Viktoria Swedish ICT to test...

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Norway’s Path to Sustainable Transport

Posted on October 30, 2014 by nradmin

Thanks to the substantial purchase tax levied on new passenger cars, the Norwegian government has a quite powerful climate policy instrument at its hand. Continued application of this instrument may halve the greenhouse gas emissions from Norwegian cars within two or three decades. On account...

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Kerbs Can Affect Guardrail Function

Posted on October 30, 2014 by nradmin

A guardrail is intended to catch a vehicle that is headed in the wrong direction, i.e., off the road, and guide it back onto the road with as little damage to the vehicle as possible, all to reduce the risk of personal injury inside the vehicle. But what happens if a kerb is installed in front of...

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Section Cameras Reduce Accidents

Posted on October 29, 2014 by nradmin

An evaluation of automatic section speed cameras at 14 road sections in Norway found a reduction of the number of injury crashes by between 12 and 22 per cent and a reduction of the number of killed or severely injured road users by between 49 and 54 per cent. Each section control site consists...

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DRIVE C2X Assessed the Impacts of Cooperative Systems

Posted on October 29, 2014 by nradmin

The EC co-funded project DRIVE C2X provided evidence that cooperative systems work and demonstrated positive impacts on driver behaviour, mobility, traffic safety, travel efficiency and the environment, with high user acceptance. DRIVE C2X provided a comprehensive, Europe-wide assessment of...

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Best Practice Factory for Freight Transport

Posted on October 28, 2014 by nradmin

BESTFACT project collects, develops, evaluates and circulates good ideas for city logistics, green logistics and co-modality as well as e-freight. Best practice descriptions (95 so far) are freely available from the project website. BESTFACT develops, disseminates and enhances the utilisation...

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Greater Risk for Motorcyclists in Intersections and on Small Roads

Posted on October 16, 2014 by nradmin

Deaths and severe injuries of motorcyclists occur more often in urban areas, in intersections and on smaller roads than is the case for car drivers. A VTI study reveals where and how severely motorcyclists are being injured. Calculations for 2011 and 2012 show that, in the April–October period,...

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Coolant Best for Engine Heating

Posted on October 16, 2014 by nradmin

A limited pilot study conducted at VTI shows that engine heating is more fuel efficient via coolant than via lubricant. Cold starting a motor vehicle results in higher fuel consumption and more emissions than if the engine is started when hot. Engines have traditionally been pre-heated by...

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Better Traffic Flow with Adaptable Speed Bumps

Posted on October 16, 2014 by nradmin

More alternatives are emerging that lack the downsides of permanent speed bumps. VTI has examined the types of available dynamic speed bumps and assessed which could suit the Nordic climate. An alternative speed bump can be either passively or actively dynamic. Passively dynamic speed bumps are...

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The 11th edition of The Technology Days

Posted on October 14, 2014 by nradmin

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) recently held a conference with the latest news within research and development on issues related to road and transport in Norway. The conference, which was held in Trondheim, gave the attendees the opportunity to discuss and exchange experiences...

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