Open letter calls for certainty on D-TROs

Highways, transport and technology organisations call on government to set firm dealine for Digital Traffic Regulation Orders

A coalition of the UK transport solution providers and data consumers has sent an open letter to minister for the future of Roads Lilian Greenwood MP urging the government to set a firm deadline for the nationwide implementation of Digital Traffic Regulation Orders (D-TROs).

The letter is led by Dan Hubert, chief executive of AppyWay and co-signed by organisations including Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), TRL and the RAC Foundation.

The coalition  states that D-TROs are the fundamental foundational layer required for CAVs to operate safely and legally on UK roads, as laid out in the Autonomous Vehicles Act. 

Without a digital, machine-readable format for traffic regulations, which govern everything from speed limits to parking restrictions, autonomous vehicles will be unable to interpret and comply with the rules of the road. The coalition argues that while the industry is ready to deliver the necessary technology, progress is stalled as local authorities await a clear mandate from the Department for Transport.

The signatories warn that a current ambiguity jeopardises the UK’s leadership position in the connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) sector. 

“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. “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 D-TRO adoption deadline. The industry is aligned and ready to deliver, but cannot do so in a vacuum of certainty.”

The letter sets out the immediate and wide-ranging benefits of implementing D-TROs beyond autonomous vehicles, including:

• Accelerating strategic initiatives: Speeding up the roll-out of on-street EV chargepoints and shared mobility services, and improving kerbside accessibility for 2.35 million Blue Badge holders.
• Improving traffic management: Enabling real-time, data-driven responses to traffic conditions to reduce congestion and emissions.
• Increasing public value: Reducing the administrative burden on local authorities and maximising the return on investment for other government transport initiatives like the National Parking Platform (NPP).

The coalition argues that by prioritising the digital infrastructure, the UK can gain a strategic advantage over other nations that are focused primarily on vehicle technology. “This is a strategic moment for UK transport. While other countries focus on vehicles, the UK can lead by embedding the infrastructure that makes autonomy safe, legal, and scalable. We urge you to confirm and publish a D-TRO 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.”

The signatories includes AppyWay, Arrive, Disabled Motoring UK, Grid Smarter Cities, ITS-UK, Motability Operations, RAC Foundation, Symology and TRL.