Latest news with #DfT
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul
Vital bus services will be protected from sudden cuts under new legislation, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Councils in England will put strict requirements in place before 'socially necessary' routes can be changed or cancelled, the department said. This is aimed at services to locations such as hospitals and schools. The measure is part of the Government's Bus Services Bill, which reached its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday. This will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services. The Government will also reduce some of the red tape involved in bus franchising, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'We're committed to giving local leaders the power to shape the bus services their communities rely on. 'Our Bus Services Bill is a big step forward, protecting vital services that people depend on to get to work, school or essential appointments. 'We have taken a decisive step towards better buses, building on our £1 billion investment to improve and maintain bus services, keeping people connected, driving up living standards and growing the economy.' Ben Plowden, of lobby group the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Buses are the most-used form of public transport. 'Preserving vital bus services has long been central to our campaigning, so the new protections in the Bus Services Bill are very welcome indeed. 'Protecting existing services, and identifying and filling gaps in the network, is the way to ensure everyone can access opportunities and stay connected.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon attacked the Bus Services Bill as 'an ideological move that threatens essential services'. He said: 'They scrapped the £2 fare cap, slashed support for routes, and now want to strip away safeguards so councils can seize control of networks they aren't capable of operating. 'This is about Labour clinging to a fantasy of municipal socialism, whatever the cost to those who rely on local transport. Without the requirement to prove any benefit to passengers, Labour-run councils will be free to run yet another public service into the ground. 'We're not opposed to local decision-making. But this Bill offers no real investment, no credible delivery model, and no route to better services.'
The Independent
6 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Talking to passengers is main cause of distracted driving mistakes
Talking to passengers and daydreaming are bigger causes of distracted driving mistakes than using a phone, a new survey suggests. The RAC, which commissioned the poll, warned that distractions can have 'catastrophic consequences'. More than three out of five (63%) of the 2,691 UK drivers surveyed said they have made mistakes behind the wheel because they were distracted. Of this group, the most common causes were talking to other passengers (43%) and thinking about topics unrelated to driving (37%). Interacting with modern touchscreen systems to control functions such as heating, radio and navigation aids also leads to drivers making mistakes, with 26% saying this has happened to them. Mistakes included missing a junction, exceeding the speed limit, ending up in the wrong lane and nearly crashing into another road user. When all respondents to the survey were asked what they consider distracting, the most common responses were talking on a phone (46%) and applying make-up or shaving (42%). But among those who admitted to making distracted mistakes, just 8% and 2% of drivers respectively said those were the causes. Separate Department for Transport (DfT) figures show 940 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads in 2023 where a driver was found to be distracted by something within their vehicle. RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: 'Talking to passengers or daydreaming are so common that they aren't perceived by drivers to be big distractions, but our research has revealed they are in fact responsible for most of the errors drivers admit to. 'Although your eyes are on the road, it's easy for your mind to wander behind the wheel, especially on long journeys. 'Distractions can have catastrophic consequences for both drivers themselves and other road users, especially in extreme instances like failing to stop at a junction or at a red light or crossing. ' Driving is still a very mentally demanding task, especially as we need to be able to react to what's in front in a split-second, so it's important we do everything we can to stay alert and minimise distractions.'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Boost for holidaymakers as new UK flight path overhaul 'will cut delays and journey lengths' - but campaigners warn local residents will be 'hammered'
Holidaymakers are set to enjoy quicker flights and fewer delays due to an overhaul of the UK's airspace, the Government claimed today. Ministers have set out plans for the largest redesign of Britain's system of flight paths since it was first decided in the 1950s, when there were only 200,000 flights per year. This compares to 2.7million flights in the UK last year, while - since winning power at last July's general election - Labour has committed to expanding major airports. The Department for Transport (DfT) said redesigned 'skyways' would cut delays and emissions per flight by reducing the need for planes to circle in the sky while waiting to land. It also claimed the overhaul could allow planes to climb quicker during take-off and descend more smoothly. DfT said this would reduce noise and air pollution for residents who live along flight routes. But - despite the plans being welcomed by airline and airport bosses - campaign groups hit out at a lack of detail about the potential changes. They warned some overflown communities could be 'hammered' by greater aircraft noise. Under the proposals, the Government hopes a new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) will be fully operational by the end of this year. Its initial focus will be on redesigning London's airspace, after Labour backed a third runway at Heathrow earlier this year in its scramble for economic growth. Campaigners have said Heathrow expansion could result in an extra 250,000 flights per year. UKADS could also in future design routes that support flight paths for new techonologies such as drones and flying taxis. Mike Kane, the aviation minister, said: 'Redesigned 'skyways' will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry, not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change. 'Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future.' Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, the trade association for UK airports, described Britain's airspace as 'some of the most complex in the world'. 'The UK's airspace is a critical piece of our national infrastructure and these proposals will help modernise it, bringing forward new technologies and routing methods that will make it more efficient, cleaner, and provide passengers with a better experience,' she added. Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: 'Modernising UK airspace is long overdue and these changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.' But Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (Hacan) and Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) were critical of the plans. Paul Beckford, policy director for Hacan, criticised the lack of detail about potential new flight paths as leaving 'longer periods of uncertainty before overflown communities receive any clarity'. 'Whilst we recognise the potential airspace modernisation might bring in terms of reduced noise for some communities and lower emissions from flight, the health impacts of the greater concentration of flight paths needs to be properly understood,' he added. 'The airspace modernisation programme will enable aircraft to fly closer together, which will mean that overflown communities will be hammered by a greater intensity of noise and more frequent noise events.' Cagne said 'residents must live in fear of what is being planned for above their heads and homes.' It branded UKADS as 'another tier of bureaucracy to simply weaken the community voice'.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Airspace redesign promises quicker, quieter flights
The Government has announced the largest redesign of UK airspace in seven decades. The redesign aims to create more direct flight routes, aiming to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and flight times. Airlines like easyJet have criticised the UK's inefficient airspace, which they say contributes to increased fuel use and emissions. The Department for Transport (DfT) claims the redesigned 'skyways' will reduce noise and air pollution for residents along flight routes, while decreasing flight disruptions and shortening journey times for travellers. The UK Airspace Design Service, established by the DfT and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), will focus initially on redesigning London's airspace and could also design routes for drones and flying taxis. How a massive overhaul of UK airspace promises to cut flight times and delays
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How a massive overhaul of UK airspace promises to cut flight times and delays
Faster flights and fewer delays have been promised in the largest redesign of UK airspace in seven decades, as the government drives plans to change flight paths. New laws have been set out in Parliament on Monday 2 June to open up new and more direct flight routes for planes arriving and departing the UK's airspace. The airspace has not seen a change on this scale since it was first formed in the 1950s, when only 200,000 flights traversed it per year. Currently, 2.7 million flights use the UK's flight paths and global forecasts expect a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years. Airlines such as easyJet have complained that inefficient use of airspace contributes to increases in fuel consumption, carbon emissions and flight times. While it said this is a universal issue, the 'greatest inefficiencies' are generated during its operations in the UK. Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent at The Independent, said: "The skies of the UK, especially in southeast England, are the busiest in the world – and yet planes are still flying on paths devised in the 1950s. 'Imagine Britain in 2025 without the motorway network, and you get the idea. 'The trouble is: airspace modernisation can't happen overnight, and there will be some noisy objections from people who fear they will get more noise." The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that noise and air pollution will be reduced for residents who live along flight routes, as the redesigned 'skyways' could allow for planes to climb quickly during take-off and descend more smoothly. It also said that travellers can expect less disruption to flights and shorter journey times due to increased capacity in the air. A reduction of emissions per flight resulting from planes circling the airport waiting for a slot to land can also be expected. The DfT and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) established the UK Airspace Design Service earlier this year after a consultation process in 2024. The service's first focus will be on redesigning London's airspace, with the DfT stating that the expansion of Heathrow alone will create 100,00 jobs, drive economic growth and strengthen its position as a global hub. It is not just commercial flights that may benefit from a flight path redesign, as the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) could also design routes for emerging technologies such as drones and flying taxis. The DfT said this would be in aid of 'spurring British innovation and delivering highly skilled jobs in the tech space'. The new UKADS will be fully operational by the end of 2025 and will be run by the air traffic control service NATS. Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, said: 'The UK's airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. We handle a quarter of Europe's traffic despite having only 11 per cent of its airspace, with one of the best safety and delay records anywhere. 'However, we have to modernise airspace if we are to maintain this level of performance as traffic grows towards 3 million flights per year. 'The government's announcement to create a UK Airspace Design Service is a crucial step, building on the work we've already completed in other parts of the UK. 'We look forward to working with the government and the CAA to finalise the details regarding the best way to implement the plan and the processes required to ensure UKADS is successful.'
