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

This week Highways Voices podcasts come from Intertraffic 2026, with our reporting team on the exhibition floor of probably the world’s most influential traffic and mobility event. While only scratching the surface of this huge event featuring 900 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors, this episode does capture the energy, insights, and innovative thinking driving the future of transport technology, from AI in traffic data to smart mobility solutions and road safety.These podcasts are brought to you thanks to the support of SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL.You'll hear:A behind-the-scenes look at the Intertraffic experience from both newbies and seasoned veteransHighlights from industry leaders on road safety challenges and technology adoptionPractical insights into AI, connected vehicle data, smart ticketing and mobility platformsReal world applications of mobility data — from traffic planning to passenger experienceOur guests are:Chris Spinks - MD of WestcotecSteve Phillips - Secretary General, CEDRLorenzo Modena - CEO and Founder, OpenMoveGiorgio Potenza - International Business Development Manager, AGD SystemsDouglas Gilmour - Global Business Development Manager, TomTomPlus our reporters Paul Hutton, Kevin Borras and Libby McMahon.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!

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.

It's National Apprenticeship Week, and the next generation of our industry's leaders provides the backdrop for this episode of Highways Voices, which focuses on the growing role apprenticeships can play in solving the highways and transport sector’s ongoing skills shortages.Today, host Paul Hutton speaks with Ben Harrison, an apprentice data scientist at National Highways, whose career path is far from traditional - he moved from being a trainee detective with West Yorkshire Police into his current technology-focused position shaping the future of our strategic road network.Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!The conversation highlights how apprenticeships are no longer just an option for school leavers, but a practical route for career changers seeking to retrain without stepping away from full-time employment.Ben Harrison reflects on how, at 18, he lacked awareness of the opportunities available, noting that most of his peers automatically followed the university route, and his hindsight-driven view gives the discussion a relatable edge, particularly for younger listeners facing similar crossroads today.Crucially, the podcast also provides an accessible insight into what data science looks like inside National Highways. Harrison describes a working life split between structured learning and real-world project delivery, including involvement in the development of a customer contact chatbot now live on the organisation’s website. The episode paints a picture of apprentices contributing immediately, not in minor support roles, but in meaningful operational work tied directly to public-facing services.Alongside the technical discussion, there is a clear emphasis on personal development and organisational culture. Our guest speaks positively about the support offered from colleagues, senior leadership, and delivery partners, and describes the level of trust placed in apprentices as a major benefit. He also acknowledges the pressures of balancing study commitments with live project deadlines, offering a realistic account of the challenges involved in learning on the job.The episode ultimately positions apprenticeships as a strategic tool for the highways sector, not just a training scheme. With references to AI sustainability initiatives and future-focused career progression, the discussion frames early talent development as essential to building long-term leadership and technical capability. If you're interested in skills policy or workforce planning (and you should be!), the podcast delivers a timely and grounded example of how industry recruitment is moving on, plus it gives you an insight into the practical use of AI in transport infrastructure.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.