DfT writes letter to local authorities on local highway maintenance funding
Antonia Williams, Director General, Roads Transport Group, Department for Transport, has issued a letter addressed to the Chief Executives of local highway authorities in England, highlighting highways maintenance incentive funding requirements for 2026 to 2027. The full letter can be read here, but it begins: “Dear chief executive, The Department for Transport (DfT) has previously […]
Councils face new rules for spending pothole funding
Councils will face new rules on how they spend funding to fix potholes and maintain local roads, under new requirements set out by the government. Under the new measures, local highway authorities that fail to demonstrate they are maintaining roads effectively could lose around a third of their £1.6 billion funding for the next year. […]
Lawyers call for legal reform to access driverless vehicle data in injury claims
Lawyers have called for new legislation to ensure people injured in collisions involving driverless vehicles can access the onboard data required to support compensation claims, as the Department for Transport continues developing safety regulations, says TaxiPoint. The intervention comes as the DfT consults on the future regulatory framework for automated vehicles, with industry adoption accelerating from […]
No safety driver required: DfT publishes guidance on AV pilot scheme with focus on first responders
The Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles has announced that starting from spring this year companies will be able to apply to run commercial services using self-driving vehicles without a safety driver on roads in England, Scotland and Wales. This guidance is to help first responders (blue light services) to prepare for […]
Better Connected: DfT publishes its strategy for integrated transport
Tap-and-go travel across buses, trains, and trams will benefit more cities and towns across England after the Government announced more local powers for contactless travel in its national integrated transport strategy. Better Connected sets out a long-term framework for delivering a more joined up, accessible and user-focused transport system across England. Local leaders are being given the tools to replicate joined-up […]
DfT announces the 16 Major Road Network and Large Local Majors road schemes that will receive funding in 2026
The Department of Transport (DfT) has announced several Major Road Network (MRN) and Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) programme schemes that will be funded in 2026. Following a 2025 review of 41 Major Road Network and Large Local Majors (MRN/LLM) programme schemes, 16 MRN/LLM schemes will progress, subject to relevant business case approvals. “These 16 MRN/LLM […]
ITS UK welcomes DfT’s new Transport Data Action Plan
ITS UK has welcomed the publication of the new Transport Data Action Plan today. Max Sugarman, the organisation’s Chief Executive, said: “As our transport system becomes increasingly reliant on technology, and the use of digital tools and AI within the sector increases, it is vital that industry and Government are aligned on how to make […]
Government backs recommendations for ‘stop anywhere’ buses to make women feel safer
New government guidance will be issued to councils nationwide to help them consider how to make their streets safer for women and girls, Active Travel England (ATE) has today announced. New polling by YouGov has found that almost 9 in 10 women have felt unsafe while walking at night, while 7 in 10 have changed […]
Bus Users UK welcomes £73.2m investment in zero emission buses
Bus Users UK has commended the announcement from the Department for Transport that £73.2m is being made available to deliver 484 new zero emission buses across England. The investment will replace older diesel vehicles, cut harmful emissions and improve journeys for passengers travelling for work, education, healthcare and leisure. Buses are already cleaner per passenger […]
Suppliers hear of industry’s ‘WhatsApp moment’ for Connected Vehicle Services
Suppliers of Connected Vehicle services across the UK have been told the Department for Transport is committed to supporting the industry to deliver connected services in an open, shareable way. The comments were made by the DfT’s Head of Road Infrastructure Technology, Darren Capes, during a webinar around the new Connected Vehicle Services Framework (CVS), […]