11 September 2001

EUROPEAN EXPERTS HEAR NORTHERN IRELAND IS AT LEADING EDGE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY

Transport technology experts from across the UK and Europe visiting Belfast heard today that the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service is at the leading edge of implementing innovative new technology.

Regional Development Minister, Gregory Campbell, highlighted a number of initiatives that have been undertaken in Northern Ireland in recent years during his address to a workshop organised by the UK’s Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) and the European-wide POLIS Organisation.

It was the first time that these two organisations, which bring together most of the expertise on Intelligent Transport Systems in the UK and throughout Europe, have come together to run a workshop of this type.

Mr Campbell was speaking at the second day of the two-day workshop, entitled ‘Sustainable Mobility – Local Reality and Challenges in Europe’, at Queen’s University.

The Minister said: "I am delighted to welcome both these organisations to Belfast, particularly since this is the first time such a workshop has been arranged.

"DRD Roads Service is a member of both these organisations as we recognise the importance of keeping abreast of new developments in transport technology. We can do this much more effectively by liaising and sharing experience with other organisations.

"Northern Ireland has a good record of using innovative technology. The most striking example being the motorway control system installed in January 1995 for the opening of the M3 Lagan Bridge, which was the first of its kind, and is now used extensively in Great Britain.

"We have enhanced our system by a number of innovations, including integration of the motorway and urban traffic control systems, and again this was the first in the UK and has since been introduced in Glasgow and Southampton.

"Additionally, in 1998, Roads Service became the first city in Europe to put live CCTV pictures on the internet and to date there have been over two million hits.

"These innovations highlight the important role that technology plays in reducing congestion and improving safety in roads, particularly in Belfast. Roads Service has been at the forefront in using innovative technologies and continues to work to ensure that these advantages are maintained."

At the event, the Minister launched a new information leaflet on Motorway Control, including information on work carried out, on the services provided and on traffic and travel information.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. ITS UK is a public/private sector organisation based in London, which works to bring the benefits that Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can offer in terms of economic efficiency, transport safety and environmental benefits to the UK. It is the leading organisation of its type in the country. The membership, currently around 100 organisations, comprises government departments, local authorities, consultants, manufacturing and service companies, academic and research contributors.
2. POLIS is an association of European cities and regions working together on transport and environmental issues with a particular interest in innovative technologies, policies and funding systems. The network has over 60 cities and regions from 16 European countries and has its headquarters in Brussels.

For further information contact Eamon Deeny on 028 9054 0004.