PACTS was pleased to host a successful cross-modal event on 1st October 2024 at the WMG, University of Warwick. We would like to thank WMG and Professor Siddartha Khatsgir for hosting the event for us, as well as Oxa, who provided sponsorship.
The event consisted of a morning plenary session on the topic of Safety Critical Software, chaired by PACTS Rail Safety Working Party chair, Carolyn Griffiths. Our speakers were:
- Dr Paula Palade, Jaguar Land Rover – Engineering Ethics by Design: The Safety Imperative
- Prof John McDermid, University of York – Safety Critical Software in the Automotive Sector
- Darren Fitzgerald, RSSB – Rolling Stock Software
The speakers all set out the challenges and opportunities as transport systems are increasingly automated. Each made clear how standards need to be set so that systems respond to the premise that human life is more valuable than infrastructure or vehicles. It is essential that policy makers grasp this so that legislation is drawn up correspondingly.
Attended by more than 60 PACTS members, the day continued with individual Working Party meetings (RSWP, RUBWP, REWP, VDWP) in the afternoon.
- The Road Environment Working Party heard from Katie Gaudion at the Royal College of Art about the Streets for Diversity project. Jo Edwards from Warwickshire County Council gave a presentation on a project on the Fosse Way, a route historically prone to collisions, and a new initiative that aims to combine engineering solutions with education and marketing to change driver behaviour. Nicola Foster from Essex County Council presented on their Vision Zero project. There was also a useful discussion about the priorities for the working party including ideas for briefing notes.
- The Road User Behaviour Working Party heard a presentation from Liz Box at the RAC Foundation on Graduated Driver Licensing (one of the four priorities outlined in the Manifesto for Road Safety), which is receiving increasing media attention. There was also a talk from Chris Miller at Via Volenti about innovations in improving road safety through electronic tagging for disqualified drivers. Alan Hiscox from the BHS also gave a presentation on de-escalating road rage through the use of mindfulness techniques in managing stress and improving driver behaviour.
- The Vehicle Design Working Party had a presentation from Shufeng Chen at the WMG on their current work in applying System-Theoretic Process Analysis to the development of connected autonomous vehicles, as well as a talk from David Jenkins and Mark Courtier at TRL on their work in automotive projects related to developing subsystem components for automated vehicles.
- The Rail Safety Working Party looked at the group’s priorities and reviewed the key issues and possible solutions facing the industry. With the Government moving fast to create Great British Railways, Simon French at the Department for Transport provided an update on the safety assurance within these rail sector reforms, and Emma Richards at the DfT presented on the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme.
We are grateful to our sponsors, Oxa and WMG, as well as the PACTS members for participating in this productive day. We look forward to seeing everyone again at a future working party meeting.