Highways Voices: Talking Roads and Transport Technology innovation

Paul Hutton
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business News
  • Updated weekly

The Highways Voices podcast is a must-listen for professionals in the Highways and Transport Technology industries covering construction, maintenance, Intelligent Transport Systems and Public Transportation. Presented by leading journalists Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum, you’ll hear industry leaders sharing insights you won’t hear anywhere else, giving you a taste of the latest thinking about the sector's new techniques and technologies, collaborations and innovations. All in the time it takes for an average daily commute (or dog walk!). We bring you keynote-speaker quality guests into your phone or laptop, ensuring every time you listen you’ll learn something new you can use in your day-to-day job. Plus, you'll catch up with the top stories from the daily newsletters sent by Highways-News.com and hear the latest from our podcast partners LCRIG, the TTF, ADEPT and ITS UK.

  1. 3 days ago

    Vision Zero or Vision Wishful Thinking? Actually making our roads safer with Jamie Hassall of PACTS

    This week on Highways Voices, we tackle one of the most important issues facing transport professionals today: road safety. To discuss whether the industry is truly serious about Vision Zero, we’re joined by Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, who delivers a frank and thought-provoking challenge to many of the assumptions drivers, policymakers and even transport professionals hold about safety on the road network. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. In the conversation, he argues that Britain’s national speed limit system is outdated, particularly on rural roads, and explains why “safe speed” is often very different from the number shown on a sign. The conversation explores the backlash against 20mph limits, why compliance with speed limits remains so poor, and whether technologies like Intelligent Speed Assistance, telematics and autonomous vehicles could fundamentally change driver behaviour. We also discuss why road safety investment still struggles to secure funding despite crashes – including many which are preventable - costing the UK economy billions each year, and whether organisations that repeatedly claim “safety is our number one priority” are genuinely backing those words with meaningful action. Perhaps most importantly, Jamie Hassall makes the case for a major focus on work-related road safety, arguing that fleet operators and employers could play a transformative role in reducing deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads. This is a conversation guaranteed to spark debate across the highways and transport technology sector. Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    26 min

  2. 19 May

    Odometer readings or smarter tracking? The options for EV road pricing

    As the Government prepares to introduce a new pay-per-mile charging scheme for electric vehicles from 2028, the debate is heating up and you’ll hear the latest thinking on today’s Highways Voices. In this recorded inside the Houses of Parliament, industry leaders, campaign groups, technology experts and motoring representatives come together to tackle one of the biggest questions facing the future of transport funding: how do we replace fuel duty in an electric future, and can it be done fairly and effectively? Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. With warnings of a £27 billion hole in Treasury finances as drivers move away from petrol and diesel, supporters argue EV road charging is inevitable. But concerns remain around privacy, public trust, fairness for drivers without home charging, and whether the technology, and politics, are ready. This episode explores: Why EV road charging is now firmly on the political agendaWhy simple odometer charging is not necessarily enough, or if smarter location-based systems are neededThe lessons the UK can learn from countries already operating road user chargingFears around a lower EV uptakeConcerns around driver privacy, public acceptance and implementation timescalesWhy the real challenge isn’t technology, but political courage You’ll hear passionate arguments from across the sector, including advocates for smarter road pricing, warnings from EV drivers themselves, and hard-earned lessons from those who’ve delivered complex charging systems before. Whether you work in highways, transport policy, mobility technology or simply want to understand how the UK pays for roads in a post-fuel-duty future, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Listen now and join the debate on the future of road charging in the UK. You’ll hear from: Ben Plowden – CEO, Campaign for Better TransportSilviya Barrett - Director of Strategy and Research, Campaign for Better TransportTim Wray – UK & Ireland Sales Director. KapschMax Sugarman – Chief Executive, Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS-UK)Richard Sallnow – Associate, PA ConsultingVicky Edmonds – CEO, EVA EnglandSteve Gooding, RAC Foundation, Director Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    35 min

  3. 12 May

    Sharing secrets of better industry inclusivity, and better transport for all

    Helen Clifford’s story is remarkable enough on its own: in 1984, she became London Transport’s first female mechanic, walking into a world of workshop pin-up calendars, no women’s changing facilities and a culture that simply wasn’t designed for women, and she’s now been recognised for it. In this edition of Highways Voices, recorded at the London Transport Museum during celebrations marking the unveiling of a blue plaque in her honour, she reflects with warmth and humour on what it was really like to break barriers in one of Britain’s most male-dominated industries. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. But this episode is about far more than one pioneering career. Transport for London’s Director of Buses, Lorna Murphy, explains why inclusivity matters to the future of transport, why the industry still has a long way to go, and how getting more women into buses and highways ultimately creates better services for everyone. The conversation also broadens into a discussion about the future of public transport itself. Murphy shares TfL’s thinking on how cities can encourage more people onto buses through affordable fares, seamless interchange and giving public transport priority on increasingly crowded roads. She also offers practical advice for local authorities taking greater control of their bus networks, arguing that successful regulation must focus relentlessly on what passengers actually need, from frequency and reliability to waiting environments and easy connections. Alongside reflections on joining the industry from Highways News’s new recruit, Libby McMahon, this uplifting episode celebrates progress, challenges assumptions and explores how buses remain central to cleaner, better-connected cities. Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    22 min

  4. 5 May

    Tyres that talk back: Connected vehicles' real-time network intelligence

    In this week’s Highways Voices we discover how connected vehicle data is transforming the way we understand and manage our roads Industry veteran Steve Isaacs is Paul Hutton’s guest to explore an innovative solution from Swedish firm Nira Dynamics, using data from hundreds of thousands of Volkswagen Group vehicles to deliver real-time insights into road conditions. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. By measuring friction where the tyre meets the road, this technology can identify hazards like standing water, ice, and snow as they happen, offering a powerful new tool for highway authorities. From smarter winter maintenance and reduced salt usage to proactive drainage and asset management, Steve Isaacs explains how the potential benefits are significant. With continuous, network-wide monitoring replacing traditional one-off surveys, this could mark a step-change in efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Listen now to get a fascinating look at how everyday vehicle data can unlock unprecedented visibility of the road network. Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    23 min

  5. 29 Apr

    Highways Voices from Istanbul: Industry insights build momentum for Birmingham 2027

    Here’s our third episode of Highways Voices the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, and today there’s a clear eye on the future, as anticipation builds for the ITS World Congress in Birmingham 2027. Host Paul Hutton brings together a mix of expert insight, industry conversation and on-the-ground perspective from one of the sector’s key global gatherings. At the heart of the episode is a thoughtful overview from Chief Rapporteur Professor Eric Sampson, who distils the major themes emerging from the Congress. From data-driven safety management and inclusive mobility design, to the challenges of integrating transport modes and scaling up autonomous vehicle deployment, his reflections highlight both how far the industry has come, and how much work still lies ahead. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. There’s a strong sense that intelligent transport systems are evolving rapidly, but not always smoothly. Discussions around user behaviour, equity, and affordability underline the importance of designing solutions that work for real people, while innovations in logistics, like remotely assisted electric delivery vehicles, show how technology is tackling urban challenges in new ways. At the same time, big questions remain, particularly around the business case and real-world impact of autonomous vehicles. Away from the conference sessions, the podcast captures the buzz of the exhibition floor and the value of international collaboration. A chance encounter with industry expert Neil Levett reveals how traditional civil engineering and cutting-edge technology are increasingly converging, with innovations like fibre-optic traffic monitoring systems pointing to a safer, more efficient future. The episode also explores the wider economic and social value of the ITS sector. ITS UK CEO Max Sugarman shares his research showing the industry is worth far more than previously thought, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and delivering significant economic impact, while also highlighting efforts to inspire the next generation. Running throughout the podcast is a growing excitement about what comes next, with strong international interest already building for Birmingham 2027, and you’ll hear lots about this, plus get a flavour of a special reception for UK companies with the local British Chamber of Commerce. Overall, this episode is a compelling snapshot of a sector full of innovation, collaboration and ambition, and a great way to get a feel for the conversations shaping the future of transport. For additional information about Birmingham 2027 or to make enquiries and bookings, interested parties are invited to contact salescongress@mail.ertico.com or go to: https://2027.itsworldcongress.com/ Jordan Cowley – Jordan.Cowley@tfwm.org.uk Jasvinder Sidhu – j.sidhu@ertico.mail.com Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    25 min

  6. 28 Apr

    The tech exists, so how do we make connected roads happen?

    Connected vehicle technology is no longer a future concept, it’s already embedded in the cars people drive and the networks we operate. So why does deployment still feel slow and fragmented? Recorded at the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, this panel discussion focuses on the real challenge facing the sector: how to move from capability to widespread implementation. Bringing together leaders from government, industry and local authorities, the discussion explores what’s holding progress back, and what’s starting to unlock it. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Hear from: Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO – ITS EuropeDarren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for TransportKerry Winstanley, Managing Director of LCRIGMax Sugarman, CEO of ITS UK Their message is clear: the technology largely exists, deployment is the challenge. Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    28 min

  7. 27 Apr

    ITS European Congress: Ten voices driving innovation on today's UK Pavilion "pitwalk"

    We’re in Istanbul for the 2026 ITS European Congress this week, and we kick off our series of podcasts with our “pitwalk”, where we chat to the exhibitors on the UK Pavilion. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Paul Hutton talks to ten guests in 25 minutes to underline to you how, from AI-powered cameras to radar-based incident detection, there’s a huge amount of innovation here and now across the sector and that, more and more, data and AI are at the heart of modern mobility. Our guests are: Inada Penman, AECOMNora Ali, Clearview IntelligenceMurat Hayri Serafettinoglu, Fides (Clearview’s Turkish partner)Giorgio Potenza, AGD SystemsHelen Garrett, MAV SystemsThomas Greene, Q-FreeLuis Miranda Hevia, Q-FreeGraham Jennings, Navtech RadarRichard Owen, AgilysisJordan Cowley, Transport for West Midlands You’ll hear how collaboration is driving progress globally, with our UK companies working closely with international partners, sharing expertise and scaling solutions across borders.This highlights how connected the ITS ecosystem has become, and this isn’t stuff of the future, it’s here and now and making our lives better. Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    27 min

  8. 21 Apr

    More women, better performance: The communication shift in bus operations

    Today on Highways Voices we find out how improving performance in an industry can come down to an overlooked skill – communication. For decision makers in highways and transport operations, maintaining reliable, customer-focused services while hitting performance targets is a constant challenge. Subscribe to Highways Voices on your favourite podcast platform and never miss an episode. So this episode explores how a shift in recruitment strategy, focusing on communication and customer service skills rather than traditional operational backgrounds, and how it’s helping one operation reduce complaints and improve relationships between different staff members. We’re talking to Annette Pratten-Lane, Control Centre Manager at Arriva’s Purley Way bus hub in London, whose rethink of recruitment strategy has led to a fourfold increase in female controllers – rising from 5% to 20% – by targeting candidates with strong communication skills rather than traditional bus industry experience. Reflecting wider industry efforts supported by the organisation Women in Bus and Coach, she’s explained to Paul Hutton how diversifying your workforce can directly improve operational performance and reduce customer complaints In today’s episode you’ll learn why communication skills, and not a technical background, are becoming the most critical asset in control room environments and see how fresh perspectives from outside the industry can challenge outdated practices and drive better outcomes Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.

    23 min
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About

The Highways Voices podcast is a must-listen for professionals in the Highways and Transport Technology industries covering construction, maintenance, Intelligent Transport Systems and Public Transportation. Presented by leading journalists Paul Hutton and Adrian Tatum, you’ll hear industry leaders sharing insights you won’t hear anywhere else, giving you a taste of the latest thinking about the sector's new techniques and technologies, collaborations and innovations. All in the time it takes for an average daily commute (or dog walk!). We bring you keynote-speaker quality guests into your phone or laptop, ensuring every time you listen you’ll learn something new you can use in your day-to-day job. Plus, you'll catch up with the top stories from the daily newsletters sent by Highways-News.com and hear the latest from our podcast partners LCRIG, the TTF, ADEPT and ITS UK.

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