The PACTS Vehicle Design Working Party (VDWP) brings together PACTS members and experts from academia, government, industry, vehicle safety, research, insurance and road safety organisations to explore how vehicle design and technology can contribute to preventing deaths and serious injuries.
The Working Party provides a forum for collaboration, evidence sharing and discussion on emerging vehicle safety challenges. Its work helps inform PACTS’ policy positions, briefings, consultation responses and engagement with Government and Parliament.
VDWP considers the role of vehicle design, safety technologies, regulation, automation, real-world collision data and consumer information in improving safety for people inside and outside vehicles.
| 👥 Members | A network of professionals from government, academia, industry, research, vehicle safety and road safety organisations |
| 📅 Meetings | Held three times a year (hybrid participation available) |
| 🎯 Focus | Vehicle safety, emerging technologies, automation, regulation, crash protection and vulnerable road user safety |
| 📄 Outputs | Briefings, consultation responses, research, events and recommendations to policymakers |
Recent discussions and areas of interest include:
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- Considering the safety implications of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and emerging vehicle technologies, including connected and automated vehicles (CAVs)
- Supporting safe design across all types of vehicles
- Improving the use of vehicle and collision data to learn from crashes and prevent future harm
- Improving the protection of people walking and other vulnerable road users through vehicle design
- Examining the safety implications of vehicle repair, maintenance and access to vehicle data
- Supporting effective consumer information and vehicle safety rating programme
Why join VDWP?
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Richard Cuerden, Chair, VDWP
Richard is responsible for TRL’s Safety Advisory business, managing its financial and technical performance. He has a strong track record of using real-world evidence to identify safety and environmental priorities and developing transport solutions, including policies and regulations, to prevent and mitigate harmful outcomes. He notably led the TRL team, which supported the European Commission, provided independent evidence and impact assessments, and developed the 2019 policy updates for the automotive General Safety Regulations and Pedestrian Safety Regulations. TRL’s mission is to create clean and efficient transport that is safe, reliable and accessible for everyone.
Dr Alix Edwards, Vice-Chair, VDWP
Dr Alix Edwards is a Principal Engineer at Apollo Vehicle Safety. She has a varied background in vehicle and road safety covering inclusive design, the generation of insight from collision data, insurance claims, vehicle usage, test and trials. Alix is currently leading work to improve bus safety by improving the design for the driver’s cab, the interior for passengers, and the crash avoidance and protection features to help reduce injury risk for other road users. This is within Apollo’s work to build on a comprehensive understanding of the problems of road traffic collisions, the potential of vehicle safety solutions to solve those problems, and the commercial and regulatory realities that must be negotiated to achieve successful casualty reduction in the real world. Alix’s passion is in learning, building connections and innovating based on a sound, independent evidence base and analysis of the policy options.
Recent highlights
Recent discussions have explored a range of emerging vehicle safety issues, including:
- Vehicle safety technology and repair: The increasing complexity of vehicle systems, including cameras, radar, LiDAR and driver monitoring technologies, and the implications for vehicle repair, recalibration, maintenance and access to vehicle data.
- Motorcycle safety and protective equipment: The effectiveness of helmets, protective clothing and inflatable airbag garments in reducing injury severity, alongside opportunities to improve testing, standards and consumer information.
- Automated vehicles and road users: The safety implications of automated vehicles, including their ability to recognise and respond appropriately to people walking, cycling and riding motorcycles, as well as issues around cybersecurity, injury mitigation and public confidence.
- Driver assistance and automation: The implications of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and automated driving, including driver understanding, human-machine interaction, handover between the vehicle and driver, liability, enforcement and access to vehicle data.
Recent outputs
Upcoming meeting
PACTS Joint Working Party Meeting
📅 Wednesday 23 September 2026
💬 Morning plenary: Tackling anti-social behaviour on the transport network, including reducing harassment and harm to users and workers across road, rail and air transport.
👥 Afternoon: Vehicle Design Working Party meeting, with discussions aligned to the Working Party’s current priorities and work programme.
