Highways Voices: Talking Roads and Transport Technology innovation

Paul Hutton
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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. Intertraffic 2026: Road safety breakthroughs, smarter road maintenance and the politics of road charging thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    22H AGO

    Intertraffic 2026: Road safety breakthroughs, smarter road maintenance and the politics of road charging thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    From the buzzing show floor in Amsterdam, today’s Highways Voices from Intertraffic 2026 captures the energy of the event and looks at some important views around road safety, maintenance and taxation, as well as focussing on how to make a great exhibition. In this episode, sponsored by SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL, you’ll hear Acusensus CEO Alex Jannick tell Paul Hutton his powerful real-world impact story that led to the creation of the highly effective distracted driving enforcement solution, saving families from the grief of road deaths. TRL’s Paul Campion gives a clear explanation of iROADS—the millimetre-accurate, data-rich platform reshaping asset management, while Arup’s Lawrence Tate tackles the political minefield of road charging and explains the five steps governments must take to build trust and get pay-per-mile schemes off the ground. Finally, SWARCO’s Richard Neumann tells us how the company consistently builds the busiest, most magnetic stand at the world’s biggest highways show, and then ERTICO’s CEO Joost Vantomme looks ahead to next month’s ITS European Congress in Istanbul and the ITS World Congress 2027 in Birmingham. Both events, of course, will be covered extensively on Highways Voices. Today’s guests: Alex Jannick – CEO and Founder, AcusensusPaul Campion – CEO, TRLLaurens Tait – Director Cities & Transport Market Leader, ArupRichard Neumann - Senior Manager Communications and Events, SWARCOJoost Vantomme – CEO, ERTICO – ITS Europe Plus you’ll hear from Highways News reporters Kevin Borras and Libby McMahon. Check out Highways News’s new TikTok channel here. Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!

    35 min
  2. Future roads: Dutch cycling, freight automation and data-driven safety at Intertraffic 2026 thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    1D AGO

    Future roads: Dutch cycling, freight automation and data-driven safety at Intertraffic 2026 thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    Highways Voices is back in the RAI for Intertraffic Amsterdam, touring the huge exhibition and conference sessions to find out more about the future of transport. These podcasts are brought to you thanks to the support of SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL. Today we find out how we can learn from the Dutch in increasing active travel and how Westcotec’s close following warning system is a direct response to collision data and customer demand, not a solution looking for a problem. We learn how freight automation is already solving real-world logistics challenges, while MAV Systems discuss how advanced ANPR solutions can be used in a variety of solutions around enforcement, parking and EV charging, and DELTABLOC explain their award-winning shift into fibre-optic sensing demonstrates how physical roadside assets are doubling as data-rich ITS platforms. Our guests today are: Chris Brunlett – International Relations Manager at Dutch Cycling EmbassyOlly Samways – Sales Director at WestcotecNourie Boraie – Einride - Global Policy Strategy at Einride and Richard Bishop – Principal at Bishop ConsultingAndy Humphries – Managing Director, MAV SystemsThomas Edl - Managing Director, DELTABLOC With interviews by Paul Hutton and Kevin Borras. Check out Highways News’s new TikTok channel here. Subscribe to Highways Voices free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or Pocket Casts and never miss an episode!

    34 min
  3. AI, safety and the future of mobility: Big names shape the conversation at Intertraffic 2026 thanks to Westcotec, SWARCO, TRL and AGD Systems

    2D AGO

    AI, safety and the future of mobility: Big names shape the conversation at Intertraffic 2026 thanks to Westcotec, SWARCO, TRL and AGD Systems

    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

    32 min
  4. AI, smart roads & mobility innovation unpacked on today's Highways Voices thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    3D AGO

    AI, smart roads & mobility innovation unpacked on today's Highways Voices thanks to SWARCO, Westcotec, AGD Systems and TRL

    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 experience Our 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, TomTom Plus 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!

    35 min

  5. MAR 4

    Kerbside chaos and the fix you’re not using

    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.

    33 min

  6. FEB 24

    "The madness of cars" - Peter Hitchens on the country's "irrational" transport history

    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.

    28 min

  7. FEB 17

    Why sticking to standards is not an option, with TOPAS, SWARCO, Yunex Traffic and Telent

    “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.

    31 min

  8. FEB 10

    From Policing to Python: One man's experience of why apprenticeships matter for the future of highways

    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.

    15 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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