DG Cities is to deliver national public research on the proposed Statement of Safety Principles for automated vehicles for the UK Government’s Department for Transport. Read on for more about the scope, aim and how we’ll be working with local groups.

DG Cities has launched a series of public workshops across the UK to explore public perceptions of how the capabilities of automated vehicles will be benchmarked and evaluated, on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). Working with partners, Reed Mobility and DJS Research, the Statement of Safety Principles study is a key part of government policy development, designed to make sure public views shape emerging legislation. The findings will directly inform the development of future policies and laws, ensuring that automated vehicles can be introduced safely onto UK roads.

The research phase runs from December 2025 to March 2026 and will include face-to-face workshops held in rural and urban locations across the country. Key themes for discussion will explore views on general road safety and benchmarking of ‘careful and competent’ driving.

“Understanding the public's perspective is vital for building trust and ensuring that future transport policies reflect the needs and concerns of all road users,” said Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation & Net Zero at DG Cities. “We aren’t only speaking to drivers, we are inviting road users of different ages and backgrounds so that we can feed in the widest possible range of perspectives.”

Participants will be invited to their local venue for a single session, which is expected to last up to 3.5 hours and all data and insights will be anonymised to support transparency and open feedback.