ITS UK and ARTSM (the Association of Road Traffic Safety and Management), have issued a joint statement welcoming the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, but calling for urgent action to speed up the review of the approval process for enforcement equipment.

Kealie Franklin, Chief Executive of ARTSM and Max Sugarman, Chief Executive of ITS UK, said:

“The Government’s new Road Safety Strategy will be welcomed by both of our memberships, given it provides a clear ambition for the reduction of those killed or seriously injured on our road network. Both ARTSM and ITS UK strongly welcome the focus on technology within the strategy, including making better use of data, aligning with European vehicle safety standards and action to tackle the use of ghost plates.

“One area that was not mentioned within the Strategy, but which is critical to ensuring the safety of road users, is the review of the Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) for enforcement equipment. As both ARTSM and ITS UK have highlighted, the HOTA process is now acting as a barrier to innovation, with enforcement equipment manufacturers unable to get new technology onto the road network due to lengthy delays, outdated standards and a lack of communication around the process.

“Whilst the Home Office launched a review of HOTA last year – which both our organisations have been actively involved in – this is simply taking too long. If Government is serious about road safety, and in utilising technology to reduce KSIs on the network, HOTA must be a clear priority. We urge the Home Office and Department for Transport to work together to expedite the review.”

(Picture: ITS UK/REMA)