The Association for Road Traffic Safety and Management (ARTSM) has responded to the announcement by Traffic Open Products and Specifications Ltd (TOPAS) at its AGM on 20 August 2026, to bring about the closure of the TOPAS business by Q2 2028.
Kealie Franklin, CEO of ARTSM, said:
“The registration fee model was unable to sustain TOPAS, and no alternative was found that preserved the independence the sector rightly insisted on. That is genuinely disappointing, but the decision itself is the right one and the TOPAS Management Board deserves credit for taking it openly rather than letting the position deteriorate. What TOPAS built matters more than how it ends: open standards, freely available, independently assessed. ARTSM will work with the Department for Transport and our members to find that a lasting home.”
Since the withdrawal of Department for Transport (DfT) Type Approval, TOPAS has maintained open specifications and provided a framework for product registration and assessment. ARTSM recognises the considerable contribution of all those who have supported that work.
ARTSM welcomes TOPAS’s confirmation that it is working with DfT to explore options for the future of the standards, including specifications currently under development or review, and for demonstrating compliance with them. It is important that the transition provides clarity for industry while preserving the principles underpinning the TOPAS specifications: open access to technical requirements, appropriate independent assessment, interoperability, and confidence in the performance of equipment deployed on the highway. The availability, maintenance and development of robust technical standards matter to manufacturers, authorities, consultants and system suppliers, and ultimately to the safe and effective operation of the UK’s road network.
ARTSM and TOPAS Ltd are separate organisations, and ARTSM’s own operation, governance nd activities are unaffected by the decision. As a trade body, ARTSM will continue to pursue its objectives and engage with DfT, TOPAS, road authorities, its members and other stakeholders as future arrangements develop on behalf of its membership.
(Picture: ARTSM)
