We are pleased to provide an update from each of our Working Parties’ most recent meetings:
- The Vehicle Design Working Party met on 15th January 2024. CCAV presented on the Statement of Safety Principles in the AV Bill and the six principles contained in it. Oxa presented on their vision for universal autonomy – software that can drive any vehicle anywhere, with a focus on the deployment of self-driving shuttles. Thatcham Research shared their update to their ‘Defining Safe Automated Driving’ paper, and Anna Zee from the British Motorcyclist Federation talked about the particular risks to two-wheelers from AVs.
- The Road Environment Working Party met on 16th January 2024. Members heard about Oxfordshire County Council and Leeds City Council’s Vision Zero Strategy, as well as a presentation on post-collision response from Cambridgeshire County Council.
- The Rail Safety Working Party met on 22nd January 2024. The working party priorities were reviewed, and topics covered at the meeting included personal safety with implementation of recommendations by Transport Safety Champions, and a regulator’s career experience with ORR’s outgoing Safety Manager Ian Prosser speaking about challenges and progress within the rail industry.
- The Road User Behaviour Working Party met on 24th January. 2024. Members heard about the possible challenges of future driver training from RED Driver Training, as well as an update on TfL’s Road Safety Charter for delivery workers. Bikeability gave a presentation on the engaging riders in road safety training, which highlighted the vulnerabilities of delivery riders.
The Air Safety Working Group has focused on the Airbus crash in Japan and the exceptionally well-run evacuation of the plane. Safety management systems are now a requirement for engineering and design and production staff, and airlines continue to feel the impact of Covid on their workforce.