Rapidly-changing mobility environment is challenging policymakers, says UK DfT

Policy makers are working hard to make sense of a rapidly-changing mobility environment, according to a senior official from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT). Ella Taylor, DfT’s head, future of mobility, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (C/AV), says the pace of development in transportation modes, such as e-scooters (not currently allowed in the UK) and e-bikes (which are), presents difficulties for governments trying to create standards and laws. “Across the globe, different modes
January 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Policy makers are working hard to make sense of a rapidly-changing mobility environment, according to a senior official from the UK’s 1837 Department for Transport (DfT).

Ella Taylor, DfT’s head, future of mobility, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (C/AV), says the pace of development in transportation modes, such as e-scooters (not currently allowed in the UK) and e-bikes (which are), presents difficulties for governments trying to create standards and laws.

“Across the globe, different modes challenge the way we are doing regulation,” she told the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum in London this week.

When it comes to hot-button issues such as AVs, she said that removing the driver from the equation is going to have a positive impact on road safety – but events such as 8336 Uber’s %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external fatal crash false http://www.itsinternational.com/sections/general/news/uber-seeks-to-resume-av-trials-nearly-eight-months-after-arizona-fatality/ false false%> in Arizona emphasise the need for explanation and reassurance.

“How do you juggle that challenging situation and make the public understand why you’re supporting this strategy?” she said.

The DfT plans to release a strategy on the future of urban mobility “soon”.

Enforcement

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Kapsch to deploy tolling roadside systems in Australia
    December 17, 2018
    Kapsch TrafficCom Australia is to deliver a tolling roadside system for two projects in Melbourne and Sydney for a combined value of AUD$30 million (£17m). In Melbourne, Kapsch’s tolling technology will be utilised in the West Gate Tunnel Project, an initiative which seeks to establish a second river crossing in the city and remove thousands of trucks from residential streets. Part of an agreement between two contractors: CPB Contractors John Holland Joint Venture (CPBJH JV), the full scope of the contr
    Read More
  • Hyundai and Aurora partner to develop Level 4 AVs by 2021
    January 5, 2018
    Aurora’s self-driving technology will be incorporated into Hyundai Motor’s (Hyundai) vehicles in an agreement to bring Level 4 autonomy to market by 2021. The partnership aims to deploy autonomous driving quickly, broadly and safely with Hyundai’s new generation fuel-cell vehicle to be the first test model this year. In the long term, both companies will work to commercialize these vehicles worldwide. The project will initially focus on the ongoing development of hardware and software for automated and
    Read More
  • Funding for SMEs and citizens to solve urban challenges using technology
    June 16, 2017
    Future Cities Catapult has announced a US$1.2 million (€1 million) ‘OrganiCity’ Open Call to solve city challenges in London, Aarhus, and Santander using urban data.
    Read More
  • Highways England highlights enforcement business
    April 16, 2019
    Enforcement policies need to start focusing much harder on business users, says a new initiative from Highways England. Geoff Hadwick reports on what this could mean for cutting work-related injuries and incidents
    Read More

Highlighted Content