Month: August 2025

“The international traffic technology group SWARCO has acquired 100% of the renowned company Heusch/Boesefeldt GmbH, a leading provider of software solutions for highway and tunnel management systems as well as innovative traffic management, effective 19 August 2025.

Headquartered in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, with a branch office in Cottbus, Brandenburg, Heusch/Boesefeldt employs around 50 staff. The company plays a key role in the digitalization and automation of national and international traffic infrastructures. Notable references include the outfitting of the German Traffic Control Center of Autobahn GmbH des Bundes as well as the national traffic management and information center of ASFINAG in Austria and its ongoing development. Projects also include construction site management for Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands and CAR2X applications in the digital test field Düsseldorf or for the construction site warning system of Autobahn GmbH.

SWARCO CEO Michael Schuch stated: “With the acquisition of Heusch/Boesefeldt, a company founded in the same year as SWARCO in 1969, we are strategically expanding our technological expertise in customized software solutions. At the same time, we are strengthening our market presence in the DACH region and beyond, enabling closer collaboration with key SWARCO clients in road and highway operations. This also lays the foundation for building a powerful engineering center for highway and tunnel management systems and for developing forward-looking technologies – especially in the field of CCAM (Cooperative, Connected, Automated Mobility).”

Managing Directors Dirk Hübner and Berthold Jansen commented: “As a SWARCO company, Heusch/Boesefeldt is entering a new chapter full of opportunities. Our innovative, highly developed solutions can now have an even greater impact with SWARCO. The future of Heusch/Boesefeldt is secured long-term, and we can continue to offer our employees inspiring prospects: to apply their knowledge and energy to socially meaningful developments and to positively shape the future of mobility.”

TRL has published its latest guide for the Department for Transport (DfT), Systems Thinking in Transport Safety: Cross Modal Safety Change Programme. This landmark study acts as an introductory guide to the application of systems thinking in transport safety, showing how a holistic approach to complex systems can help prevent future accidents and save lives.

The guide asks unconventional but vital questions: what can a shallow spot in a river ten thousand years ago teach us about pedestrian safety today? What do lifts reveal about the safety of roll-on-roll-off ferries? What might Stanley Kubrick tell us about aviation safety, and what does that mean for the future of automated vehicles?

Through engaging case studies and real-world examples, the report demonstrates how systems thinking can be applied across all modes of transport. It explores the intersection between machines, the humans who operate them, and the wider social structures shaping behaviour; highlights the importance of feedback loops and boundaries within systems; examines the delayed effects of interventions; and underlines the need to design robust systems that anticipate human error. The study also considers the challenges posed by automation and the increasingly complex relationship between humans and intelligent machines.

The study examines three major transport disasters, the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise, the crash of Air France flight 447, and the Selby rail crash, to illustrate how siloed thinking can have catastrophic consequences, and how systems thinking can instead generate solutions.

Crucially, Systems Thinking in Transport Safety provides practitioners with practical tools and techniques, while emphasising that true systems thinking is more about mindset than methods. By engaging stakeholders and considering cultural, technical, economic, and environmental influences, professionals across disciplines can make safer decisions.

Lead Author Ianto Guy said “Our aim must be for no one to be injured or killed when travelling by any mode. Systems thinking is not just about tools, it’s about adopting a mindset that sees the bigger picture, understands interconnections, and anticipates the unintended consequences of decisions. This guide is designed to help practitioners begin that journey.”

The Policy Dialogue on Automobile and Better Mobility 2025, organised by the Nepal Automobiles Association (NASA Nepal) and NASA Foundation Nepal on 2-3 August 2025 at Royal Tulip Kathmandu, concluded successfully with the participation of 93 distinguished national and international experts.

During the event, the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Devendra Dahal, expressed his appreciation towards NASA Nepal, stating that the organisation is accomplishing tasks even the government has not been able to undertake. He commended NASA Nepal’s role in connecting stakeholders from both Nepal and abroad and in persistently advocating for better mobility solutions. Minister Dahal further informed that the formulation of the Road Safety Act is in its final stage and affirmed the government’s commitment to prioritize road safety in the coming days.

The keynote speakers included Mr. Sushil Babu Dhakal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory (headquartered in Manila, Philippines); Mr. Greig Craft, Vice President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Founding President of the Automobile Association of Vietnam, and Founder of AIP Foundation; Ms. Ranjit Kaur Virk, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Automobile Associations and the Western India Automobile Association; and Dr. K.C. Vohra, Director of the School of Automotive, NAMTECH India.

In the “Brainstorming with International Speakers” session, Mr. Greig Craft spoke about two-wheeler safety, helmet use, and road safety in Asia. Ms. Ranjit Kaur Virk discussed sustainable tourism in South Asia, including IDP (International Driving Permit), CDP (Carnet de Passages), and cross-border connectivity. Dr. Vohra shared insights into efforts to enhance safety in the automotive sector. Discussions also included activities in Nepal and further areas to be addressed in the future.

On the same occasion, the National Road Safety Award and Certificate of Appreciation were conferred upon Traffic Campaigner Mr. Shekhar Chandra Rai, in recognition of his significant contributions to the road safety sector. The award was handed over by Minister Mr. Devendra Dahal. The award is presented to individuals or institutions that have made notable contributions to road safety.

Furthermore, NASA Nepal announced the establishment of a Motoring Academy and the launch of Evision Nepal to enhance road safety efforts in the country. The campaigns were formally inaugurated by Minister Dahal and other distinguished guests present at the event.

Participants included professionals and stakeholders from governmental and non-governmental organisations involved in road transport and the automobile sector, representatives from local municipalities, academicians and students from engineering institutions, and entrepreneurs from the automotive industry.

The organisers expressed their belief that this dialogue would serve as a foundational step toward enhancing the credibility, professionalism, and global reach of Nepal’s automobile sector, while also establishing it as a key socio-economic and political agenda. They also emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts with academic and professional institutions in Nepal, beginning with this dialogue.

Valerann has been named one of three nominees in the Technology category for the 2025 European Commission Excellence in Road Safety Awards, as announced by the European Commission Road Safety Chapter. This nomination recognises Valerann’s work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for advancing road safety through the use of data and data analytics for incident detection.

The European Road Safety Charter, supported by the European Commission, annually highlights exemplary initiatives from across Europe that contribute to the shared goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. This year’s theme focuses on collaboration, innovation, and the power of data, making our nomination particularly meaningful.

The winners will be announced on 16 October.