The future implementation of the points-based drivers’ licence will be the best way of reducing traffic accidents, according to 55% of Catalan driving school directors. Some others (25%) believe that, to reduce accident rates, longer and more detailed training is required, whilst others (10%) believe in the effectiveness of fines. These are some of the conclusions included in the study Training responsible young drivers, presented today by the abertis foundation and prepared by the Grupo de Investigación sobre Envejecimiento (GIE, the Ageing Research Group) of the University of Barcelona (UB), led by Dr. Ricardo Moragas. At the presentation ceremony were Dr. Ricardo Moragas, the Director of the Catalan Traffic Service, Rafael Olmos, and the Director of the abertis foundation, Ricard Maxenchs.

abertis has been awarded the Social Initiative Award for the photograph exhibition Paths of Emotions and for its support to the Special Olympic Games and to the families of the mentally handicapped people who participated in the event. The award was part of the “Family” Business and Institutional Awards, organised by the Group of Catalan Family Associations. The manager of Institutional Relations and Quality, Ricard Maxenchs, collected the prize on behalf of abertis from the Catalan Minister for Well Being and Family, Anna Simó, at an event which took place on June 20^th at the FIATC Auditorium.

The thesis “Modelling of the actions and behaviour of underground car park users”, by Félix Andrés Caicedo Murillo, was the research project to receive the 2nd abertis Award. The work analyses how users make their choice of floor and empty parking space, and establishes some models that help predict driver behaviour in underground car parks. On the this basis, the thesis suggests new criteria to be borne in mind when operating these infrastructures, from the viewpoint of improving customer service.

The Palau de la Música Catalana today hosted the presentation of the research project Tourism in Catalonia’s countryside: an environmentally-sound, quality strategy, supported by the abertis foundation and performed by the Turisme en Espai Rural Group of the Geography Department of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) led by Dr. Gemma Cànoves. Present at the act were the Tourism Director-General of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Isabel Galobardes, Dr. Gemma Cànoves, and the abertis foundation trustee and 2004 Spanish National Environmental Award winner, Dr. Martí Boada.