The Future of Roads Minister has confirmed support for digital Traffic Regulation Orders and Digital Controller Interface Specification as she hailed the Birmingham’s hosting of the 2027 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress and praised the industry as a whole in a speech in Parliament today, as she pointed to the contribution her department makes through the Transport Technology Forum.
Talking at the ITS UK annual parliamentary reception, Lilian Greenwood said the sector is fundamental to her department’s vision, to connect more people to more places ensuring that everyone can enjoy easier, safer, faster journeys, “whoever they are, and wherever they come from”, as she praised ITS UK for being “the voice of our intelligent transport systems sector and for supporting organisations of all sizes to grow and thrive”.
“My department is delighted to be supporting the ITS World Congress in 2027,” she said, calling it, “a fantastic opportunity for the public sector, businesses and academia to showcase their innovations, demonstrating on the global stage how we are seizing the opportunities and tackling the challenges ahead.”
She talked about the Transport AI Action Plan, launched this week, setting out DfT’s approach to embracing emerging technology, and “recognising its ability to increase resilience, boost productivity and improve our everyday journeys.”
“It also signals our intent – to transport stakeholders, other government departments and innovators – to put AI at the heart of transport’s future,” she said, before moving onto Autonomous Vehicles, calling them “a clear example of how AI will bring tangible benefits to the public, not only in harnessing the technology of tomorrow but also in driving growth in our communities today.
“So, we’ve made implementing last year’s AV legislation one of our top priorities,” she continued, “to help deliver this, DfT made three major announcements at London Tech Week – firstly, we promised to accelerate the introduction of passenger services regulations following a consultation this summer providing businesses with the confidence they need to invest in testing and deploying this technology, secondly, we launched a consultation and draft legislation on marketing terms for AVs because by identifying words, expressions and symbols to describe authorised AVS, we can avoid consumer confusion and and finally, we published a call for evidence on safety principles to guide the proper delivery of self-driving vehicles.”
The Minister then urged everyone in the room to engage with this work and “help us to put Britain at the forefront of the AV revolution.”
She then continued to by talking about how the Department for Transport is supporting standards that will drive new ways of using data, managing the transport network and improving journeys.
“By working with stakeholders on the National Parking Platform, we’re making things simpler for everyone,” she explained, “We’re also developing D-TRO [Digital Traffic Regulation Orders] to create a digital format for traffic regulation orders together with DCIS [Digital Controller Interface Specification], which will do the same for traffic management systems, and we continue to champion the Bus Open Data Standard and Street Manager, which are now well established across the industry.”
But she flagged up that intelligent transport isn’t something this Government only wants to see on our roads. “We want this technology to fuel our entire transport network,” she said. “That’s the thinking behind our Integrated National Transport Strategy, which we’ll publish later in the year. We’re working with the industry to make this a success, and I’m grateful to ITS UK for the excellent workshops they’ve held.
“This Government is not in the business of working in silos – as we deliver our ambitious Plan for Change, we’re engaging with the people and businesses our decisions effect. Through the Transport Technology Forum, my department continues to get government, local leaders, the supply chain and academia round the table, to share insight and ideas on how we can roll-out innovative, sustainable transport solutions.”
Concluding, Ms Greenwood said: “The months, years and decades ahead are full of opportunities for transport. There’s plenty of work to do, with plenty of problems to solve. But if we get it right, there’s a bright future ahead of us.”
Attendees at the event also heard from Lord Moylan, Shadow Transport Minister; and Paul Kohler MP, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson.
All three speakers underlined the national importance of an integrated transport network—and the vital role of the intelligent transport sector in shaping the future of transport. The event was supported by Mobius Networks, with Adam Jogee MP and Henry Tufnell MP hosting the reception.
Max Sugarman, Chief Executive of ITS UK, said: “Today’s reception was a fantastic reminder that technology is not just part of the conversation—it’s at the centre of how we shape a more integrated, efficient and sustainable transport system. We’re grateful to all those who joined us in Parliament and especially to our speakers, whose contributions reflect strong cross-party support for the role of this innovative sector in forming transport policy.”
(Picture – ITS UK)
