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

  • PTV launches first Shaping Transportation event
    April 29, 2013
    On 18 and 19 June 2013, world transportation experts will meet at Shaping Transportation in London, when German software and traffic consultants PTV Group extend the format of their traditional PTV Vision user group meeting. During the two days, speakers such as Dr Hans Jeekel, Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the Netherlands, Sanjiv N Sahai, CEO of Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit Systems (DIMTS) and Allan Gooch who was responsible for transport planning during the 2012
    Read More
  • ITS World Congress to focus on ‘empowering cities’ by smart mobility
    June 27, 2019
    October’s ITS World Congress in Singapore will address topics under the theme ‘Smart Mobility, Empowering Cities’. The congress is being organised by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore and the Intelligent Transport Society Singapore in collaboration with ITS Asia-Pacific, ITS America and Ertico – ITS Europe. ITS International is the event’s official media partner. Autonomous vehicles, multimodal transport, cybersecurity and data privacy will be covered at this year’s event. Delegates and participa
    Read More
  • Transpo measures up when it comes to MMA markings
    March 20, 2018
    “Tell us what you need in markings and we’ll deliver it.” That’s the message to potential European clients says Michael Stenko, chief executive of Transpo Industries, based near New York. Transpo manufactures to customer requirements surface and pavement markings for roads and airfields, as well as the Visi-Barrier, a precast polymer concrete barrier panel. A big issue for many local authorities and contractors is delivery of enough pavement marking for when they need it, where they need it and on time.
    Read More
  • Reflecting on the EU ITS action plan
    January 7, 2013
    How do national policy positions reflect key facets of the European Commission (EC) ITS Action Plan? How useful are memoranda of understanding (MoU) as association tools? How can associations attract more young people to work in ITS? Finding answers to these questions emerged as key challenges for 2013 at the Network of National ITS Association’s November 2012 meeting in Dublin. Commenting on its commitment to work with Ertico-ITS Europe in surveying national action plan stances, Network chair Jennie Mart
    Read More

Highlighted Content