The PACTS Vehicle Design Working Party (VDWP) is one of PACTS four Working Parties. Its role is to advise PACTS on vehicle design matters and to help formulate policy. Over the past three years, the VDWP has tackled a broad range of vehicle safety and policy topics. These have included automated vehicles, new technologies and AI, human-machine interface, micromobility, and the need for real-world evidence to prevent casualties. It has also addressed issues in roadworthiness, active safety, crashworthiness, conspicuity, post-collision design, as well as vehicle safety regulations, standards, and consumer rating programmes. The VDWP meets three times a year to hear from representatives from members on priority topics in areas that present challenges and opportunities to achieving the PACTS vision. Actions from the meetings include undertaking further research, or using PACTS’ tools of briefing papers, reports, events and engagement with Parliamentarians to push the VDWP priorities forward.
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Recent outputs
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
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.
Latest news from the VDWP
The VDWP last met on 15th January 2026, with two presentations on pedestrian protection, one from Autoliv and one from IIHS in the US, which looked at vehicle design, testing and safety. There was also a presentation on the VDWP priorities for 4 2026, with plans to continue focusing on vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists and cyclists.
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