Transport Minister Anthony Browne has told delegates at this year’s ITS UK conference that Artificial Intelligence will be central to achieving the transport challenges of tomorrow.

In a pre-recorded message to the event in Manchester, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State said AI “has the potential to improve travel experiences through smoother journey planning, closer integration between modes and improve screening at ports and airports.”

He says the Department for Transport’s forthcoming transport AI strategy will set out how “we will seize those opportunities, responsible innovations that will deliver cheaper, cleaner and quicker journeys for all”.

Mr Browne also talked about ongoing achievements in the industry such as the National Parking Platform which “will revolutionise how we find and pay for parking”, and the Plan for Drivers commitment to spending £70 million pounds in maintaining and upgrading traffic signals, introducing the next generation of AI control systems.

“Projects to digitised traffic control data will prepare our networks for automated vehicles technology which could be on our streets far sooner than you think,” he said. “The automated vehicles bill will make its way into the House of Commons for second reading in the coming weeks, outlining the rigorous safety framework clear liability structure and regulatory environment that we need to kickstart a revolution on our roads, a new era for transport, there’ll be cleaner and greener than before.”

He discussed EVs and chargepoints, and also how he hopes government will liaise with the industry because ITS UK and its members “will play a really important part, not only in developing systems and services and advocating for new technologies, but also offering expertise and experience.”

(Picture – ITS UK/DfT)