Five people a day die on UK roads

Our report reflects the results of PA’s capability survey and the discussions at our Roads Innovation Forum which brought together 50 senior representatives from across the roads sector. It set out expert views on the challenges the sector faces, some potential solutions and how it can create an environment that drives innovation and stimulates new approaches.

Download the report

Among roads authorities there is a growing recognition that innovative approaches can make a real difference. They can improve safety, tackle pollution, reduce costs and provide better maintenance.

In particular, innovation offers the chance to:

• develop intelligent design and procurement of infrastructure
• build intelligence into infrastructure
• obtain more and better information for drivers on the operation of the network
• develop more intelligent management and use of infrastructure
• create products, services and insight to sell to other highways authorities internationally.

Innovation can increase the sector’s collective capability and effectiveness but the pace of development is currently too slow. There is a real need for:

• a more collaborative approach
• open innovation
• new ideas and talent from outside the sector.

At local, regional and national levels there is a real desire for change to:

• increase the effective capacity of the road network

• maintain it more effectively

• meet customer expectations.

Our report sets out how those involved can use that appetite for change, alongside the new Road Investment Strategy, to truly transform the development and operation of our roads.

"Autonomous vehicles will only work effectively if there is a well-maintained road network for these vehicles to use that is relatively free of congestion"

– Steve Gooding, Director General of Roads, Traffic & Local Group, Department for Transport

"The roads question is what social scientists call a wicked political issue in the sense that it is not amendable to a clear, non-controversial outcome"

– Ben Plowden, Director of Planning, Surface Transport, TfL

"One of the barriers to change is the short-term view we have of people, processes and equipment, which does not facilitate innovation"

– Mike Wilson, Director of Network Services and Chief Highways Engineer, Highways England

Download the full report

To find out more about innovative approaches in the roads sector, please contact us.