Preparing the UKs roads for automated vehicles

Are our roads ready for automated vehicles?

While significant effort has gone into developing and assessing automated vehicle technology, there is no widely adopted framework to help places assess their readiness for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM).

This leaves local authorities, transport authorities and infrastructure owners asking important questions:

• What does good look like for Connected and Automated Mobility?
• How prepared are we today?
• Which investments should we prioritise?
• How do we benchmark progress?
• How do we measure improvement over time?

At present, there is no common language, maturity model or assessment framework that provides consistent answers. This led Innovate UK Business Connect to develop the concept of the Connected and Automated Mobility Readiness Index, or CAMRI.

A new framework for CAM readiness

Frameworks exist to assess vehicle capability, but there is no equivalent framework to assess whether a place is ready to support automated mobility. In response, we have developed the CAMRI concept, an assessment and readiness model. The framework provides a structured assessment of the factors that influence successful deployment. These include infrastructure, digital connectivity, governance, operations, accessibility, public acceptance and long-term transport planning.

We are now working with experts from industry, academia, government and local authorities to refine the framework, validate the criteria and explore routes to wider adoption.

Balancing vehicle responsibility with place readiness

CAMRI is not intended to create new obligations for local authorities or infrastructure owners.

The UK Automated Vehicles Act places responsibility on the automated driving system to operate safely within its intended Operational Design Domain. In simple terms, the vehicle must adapt to the environment in which it operates. The environment should not need to be redesigned specifically for the vehicle.

This is an important principle. It avoids placing new statutory burdens on local authorities. It also allows innovation to progress without requiring major infrastructure upgrades before deployment can begin.

However, the absence of a legal requirement for places to become “CAM-ready” does not mean place readiness is unimportant.

A vehicle may be able to operate safely in a complex environment. But that does not mean the environment is optimised for safety, efficiency, accessibility, reliability or scalability.

With better visibility of the conditions that support automated mobility, local authorities and transport planners could make more informed decisions. CAM readiness could be built into transport strategies, infrastructure upgrades, digital investment plans and place-making activity. It would not always require dedicated CAM projects. It could be improved through routine planning and investment decisions.

Benefits for future transport systems

The value of this approach goes beyond automated vehicles.

Many features that support automated mobility also support better transport systems overall. Safer road layouts, clearer interactions between road users, stronger data systems, better digital infrastructure and more accessible streets benefit pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users and conventional vehicles.

CAMRI is not just about preparing for automated vehicles, it is about helping places understand what good looks like for future transport systems. It provides a practical roadmap for moving towards that vision.

Automated mobility is no longer just a vehicle challenge. It is a systems challenge. It requires coordination between technology providers, infrastructure owners, operators, regulators and communities.

Creating a common language for readiness

Success will depend on the vehicle capabilities but also how effectively places are prepared to integrate them into wider transport networks.

CAMRI is Innovate UK Business Connect’s contribution to this challenge. It aims to bridge the gap between technology readiness and place readiness. It is informed by our position in the innovation ecosystem and by the practical experience of stakeholders across the sector.

As the concept develops through expert engagement and real-world validation, CAMRI offers an opportunity to create a common language for readiness. It can help places understand their current position, identify priorities for improvement and build confidence in future deployment decisions.

The question is no longer whether automated vehicles are coming. The question is how we help places be ready when they arrive.

Join the IUKBC-CAMRI Community

If the UK is to deploy Connected and Automated Mobility at scale, we need a shared understanding of what readiness looks like and how it can be measured.

We are now building a community of organisations interested in shaping the future development of CAMRI. This includes infrastructure owners, local authorities, technology providers, researchers, operators and policymakers.

If you are interested in this concept and would like to help develop the idea, or simply stay in touch, please complete the short form to express your interest.