About Us

What we do

The Institute for Driverless Transport (IfDT) prepares policymakers, businesses, and communities for the consequences of the arrival of autonomous vehicles. We exist so that the UK can swiftly deploy this technology, whilst minimising the worst of the job displacement and security risks.

Driverless vehicles will arrive on British roads this year. Europe's first commercial robotaxi services will launch within months. The implications stretch far beyond transport, into work, productivity, privacy, city planning, accessibility, and security. We exist to ensure the rollout goes well.

Who we do it for

We work with government departments, local and strategic authorities, regulators, unions, representative bodies, businesses, and individuals, including anyone who will need to make decisions impacted by this technology's journey to operations at scale.

How we do it

We conduct independent research into the consequences of autonomous vehicles, provide advisory work to those preparing for the transition, and bring people together for the conversations that need to happen between industry, government, civil society, and the communities most affected.

Why is this important?

We believe the UK stands to gain enormously from driverless vehicles. This technology has the potential to improve productivity, save lives, expand access to work and services, and reshape how people and goods move across the country.

The road safety case is well-evidenced and well-understood. Now is the time to look beyond it, at the full range of consequences that will follow as these vehicles roll out at scale: the effects on jobs, on cities, on productivity, on security. Many of these are under-discussed and under-researched, and some are not yet fully recognised even by those working in the sector.

Without preparation, the potential of this technology will go unrealised, the transition will be slower than it needs to be, and there will be more friction and harm along the way. IfDT exists to make sure that does not happen.

Independence

The Institute for Driverless Transport is not affiliated with any government body, technology company, or vehicle operator. We have no commercial interest in any particular technology, operator, or outcome.

This independence allows us to take a holistic view, researching the full range of consequences, advising without conflicts of interest, and ensuring the conversation includes all the people and perspectives that matter.