Teesside University on the road to solving jams
TEESSIDE University is involved in a groundbreaking project that could put an end to London’s congestion and parking problems.
DLAB - a team of researchers and digital specialists at the university - is working with South Tyneside vehicle tracking firm FleetM8 to create virtual loading bays which allow commercial vehicles to deliver goods using a system similar to the way air traffic controllers manage flights in and out of airports.
The GPS tracking technology will help large transport firms pre-book loading bays for their drivers and track a vehicle’s location, speed, fuel efficiency and driver behaviour.
Now FleetM8 is in talks with Transport for London, City of Westminster Council, the Freight Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS) and Freight Transport Association (FTA) to commercialise the concept to reduce traffic chaos in the capital.
DLAB’s Dan Riley said: “If a traffic warden tries to ticket a vehicle (which is believed to be illegally parked), the driver won’t receive a fine if it can be proved he has booked the bay.”
FleetM8 operations director Neil Herron said: “It’s literally every man for himself competing for kerb space in the capital. It means Transport for London can manage kerb space and the FTA’s members can cut back on the £500m worth of parking tickets they receive each year - and the £100m in administration costs in dealing with them.”
The partnership came about after Mr Herron met Mr Riley at an investment conference held by networking organisation CONNECT North East in April.
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