A coalition of UK-based transport technology firms have demanded clarity from the government on a crucial deadline determining when the wide rollout of autonomous vehicles in British cities can take place.
The group, which includes trade body Intelligent Transport Systems UK and parking data company AppyWay, has sent an open letter to Minister for Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood.
The open letter demands a firm deadline for the implementation of Digital Traffic Regulation Orders (DTRO), which is a key step towards approving road-legal self-driving cars laid out in the Autonomous Vehicles Act.
DTROs are digitised versions of traffic regulation orders, containing information on road closures, speed limits, parking restrictions and other traffic rules.
Local authorities are expected to implement them as a key step in supporting the developers of transportation technology as they prepare for AI-guided driving, from the vehicle and software manufacturers to providers of related infrastructure such as EV charge points.
The open letter warned that the “ambiguity” over implementation of DTROs is “paralysing local authority action” and risking the UK’s position as an early leader in the technology.
“What was initially expected in July 2025, then suggested for October, is now drifting toward 2026 with no confirmed date in sight,” said Dan Hubert, chief executive of AppyWay.
“This ambiguity is costing UK PLC millions a day in lost productivity. If the UK is to hit the ground running and lead in CAV innovation, the department must urgently set and publish a firm DTRO adoption deadline. The industry is aligned and ready to deliver, but cannot do so in a vacuum of certainty.”
The Autonomous Vehicles Act became law in May 2024, with the Department for Transport claiming a wide rollout of self-driving cars could happen in 2026. The department estimated the value of the sector to be as high as £42bn by 2035.
“DTROs are not an abstract legislative detail. They are the fundamental foundational layer of digital traffic management and regulation, enabling a host of current and future economic and environmental transport goals,” the letter outlined.
“We urge you to confirm and publish a DTRO deadline as a matter of priority. This single step will unlock nationwide momentum and ensure your department’s CAV ambitions start with the digital infrastructure they require.”
Wayve, the UK’s most valuable firm in the sector, is already trialling its driving software in a limited capacity in London via a partnership with Uber.
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