15 January 2026: The industry association for transport technology, Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) and the Association of Road Traffic Safety and Management (ARTSM), have issued a joint statement welcoming the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, but calling for urgent action to speed up the review of the approval process for enforcement equipment.

In a joint statement, Kealie Franklin, Chief Executive of ARTSM and Max Sugarman, Chief Executive of ITS UK, said: “The Government’s new Road Safety Strategy will be welcomed by both of our memberships, given it provides a clear ambition for the reduction of those killed or seriously injured on our road network. Both ARTSM and ITS UK strongly welcome the focus on technology within the strategy, including making better use of data, aligning with European vehicle safety standards and action to tackle the use of ghost plates.

“One area that was not mentioned within the Strategy, but which is critical to ensuring the safety of road users, is the review of the Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) for enforcement equipment. As both ARTSM and ITS UK have highlighted, the HOTA process is now acting as a barrier to innovation, with enforcement equipment manufacturers unable to get new technology onto the road network due to lengthy delays, outdated standards and a lack of communication around the process.

“Whilst the Home Office launched a review of HOTA last year – which both our organisations have been actively involved in – this is simply taking too long. If Government is serious about road safety, and in utilising technology to reduce KSIs on the network, HOTA must be a clear priority. We urge the Home Office and Department for Transport to work together to expedite the review.”

Note to Editors

1. About ARTSM: ARTSM is an informed and influential force in the field of Highways and Transport. The Association seeks to benefit Members through its representative role, aiming to influence technological developments and improve standards in traffic engineering and operations.  By having seats on a number of standards and specifications committees we are well placed to participate in the development of standards which relate to our industry sectors.  ARTSM provides technical expertise to a number of technical and policy committees at CEN, through BSI, and the TOPAS Board alongside government and the LRN & SRN user communities.  We publish Guidance which is freely available from our website.

2. About ITS UK: Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) is the voice of the transport technology industry. ITS UK provides a national platform to support the roll out of technology for a cleaner, safer and more effective transport network, both at home and abroad. We support our 200+ members – from both the private and public sector, and covering all sizes and disciplines – through advocacy to policymakers, connecting people and organisations, promoting the industry overseas and supporting innovation across the intelligent transport ecosystem. www.its-uk.org

3. About the HOTA process: Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) is a testing and certification process by the Home Office that enforcement technology must pass before evidence from enforcement devices can be admissible in UK courts without an eyewitness account. Enforcement technology providers have reported significant delays, sometimes of multiple years, to get to the next stage of gaining approval for their products. Following a campaign by ITS UK, the Home Office agreed to conduct a review of the HOTA process, including to develop and update the standards. This review has been ongoing since 2024 with no firm date for its conclusion.