Automated Vehicles: Setting the Safety Foundations

A full-day conference from PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, on what has to be true before automated vehicles carry people on UK roads. The programme covers the different automation types and how they actually work, the regulatory framework taking shape, what counts as safe enough and who decides, and the knock-on effects for walking, cycling, public transport and traffic management. Speakers announced so far are Prof Richard Cuerden of TRL, Dr Nick Reed of Reed Mobility, Camilla Fowler of WSP and Catherine Woodhead of Living Streets, with more to come. Format is presentations, panels and interactive workshops. Paid; early bird tickets are on sale until 2 November. 10:00 to 16:30 at Mary Ward House. Why go: it lands ahead of the spring 2027 vote on the Statement of Safety Principles, so the regulatory argument is live rather than theoretical. Best for people building AV software, sensing or fleet operations who need to know what they will be certified against.